Tartar removal
Why is tartar removal important?
Tartar removal became an important dental treatment due to dietary habits that have changed over the decades. More and more emphasis must be placed on oral care, which not only helps maintain one’s own teeth, but also extends the life of completed dental restorations and implants.
Even the slightest gingivitis endangers and can doom precise interventions to failure. Tartar formation can be a common cause of gingivitis.
What is tartar, how does it form?
Most of the plaque can be removed from the teeth with the help of regular brushing and flossing but it cannot be 100% removed at home, even with very conscientious teeth cleaning. Over time, small pieces of calcium crystals from saliva are deposited in the plaque, which can lead to tartar formation.
In order to prevent the formation of tartar, it is therefore recommended to have dental hygiene treatments done, during which the plaque can be completely removed. The rate and extent of tartar formation differs from person to person, depending on lifestyle and individual characteristics.
It is deposited most quickly and most often on the buccal surface of the upper molars and the lingual surface of the lower incisors. Tartar adheres strongly to the tooth, therefore it cannot be removed by simple brushing.
What are the short- and long-term consequences of accumulated, untreated tartar?
Over time, the formation of tartar can appear in the form of visible deposits where the tooth meets the gum, which does not offer an aesthetic appearance at all. It can also discolour the teeth, as it binds coffee, tea, tobacco smoke, as well as artificial colouring from food, which can get into the lower layers of the tooth enamel. Experience shows that the main cause of bad breath is usually not tooth decay, but tartar. By irritating the gums, tartar can cause inflammation, and further periodontal disease, bone destruction, loosening and subsequent loss of teeth.
The process of tartar removal
Tartar removal is preceded by a consultation and dental screening at our clinic. During this, the dentist will discuss the course of treatment with you and provide you with a treatment and cost plan.
During tartar removal, the ultrasonic device separates the deposited plaque, discoloration and tartar from the tooth surface, while washing and cooling the teeth with water. Due to the treatment, the surface of the tooth can be scratched, which can cause tartar to reoccur more quickly.
That is why it is recommended to have the so-called Air brush salt polishing, during which the surface of the teeth is made “smooth” and scratch-free again. The intervention is quick and painless, and does not involve any additional physical strain on the patient.
After polishing, gum and pocket treatment can take place. During this, the gums are brushed with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions, which not only destroy the bacteria in the pockets, but also stimulates possible wound healing, as well as restores the balance of the body’s local defense reaction.
After tartar removal
After tartar removal, the tooth may be sensitive for up to 4-6 weeks, but there is no need to be alarmed by this, it is part of the natural healing process after treatment. The most common cause of sensitivity is that a large amount of tartar pushes up the gum from the dentinal canal, which is exposed when the tartar is removed. This part of the tooth is sensitive to cold and heat, which causes sharp pain when eating and drinking.
If you experience persistent bleeding and pain in the area of tartar removal, or swollen lymph nodes, see your doctor as soon as possible, because the area may be infected.
In rarer cases, tooth sensitivity can only be treated with pain-relieving pills. In most cases, the toothpaste used to protect sensitive teeth is also sufficient. Stronger pain disappears within 1-2 hours after the treatment, and the symptoms subside after 1-2 weeks and disappear completely within 4-6 weeks.
IMPORTANT information
- In the 3-4 days following tartar removal, avoid hard foods and crunchy foods.
- In order for the gums and affected tissues to heal, it is recommended to quit smoking.
- Buy a gum-protecting toothpaste recommended for sensitive teeth.
- It is worth switching to a toothbrush with soft or extra soft bristles for a week due to the sensitivity of the teeth and gums.
- In the few days following tartar removal, it is worth gargling with anti-inflammatory mouthwash several times a day.
- After the treatment, do not forget to floss and clean between the teeth.
- It can be observed after removing the tartar that the interdental spaces become wider, but they also usually narrow over time.
How often should tartar removal be performed?
The amount of tartar formation varies from person to person, so it is advisable to repeat the treatment at intervals recommended by our doctors. It is usually timely every six months, so it coincides with the date of the six-month dental check-up. Regular tartar removal can prevent most periodontal diseases, which can help keep our teeth for a lifetime.