DENTAL SCALING AND POLISHING

Professional dental scaling: an essential addition to your daily oral care routine.

The accumulation of bacteria and food deposits that are not removed through brushing form dental plaque that can, in turn, cause dental disease. Tartar forms when the dental plaque is not removed through brushing.

THE BASIS OF GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE: THE RIGHT DAILY HABITS

For bacteria, the mouth is the main port of entry into the body. Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening with a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste that emulsifies dental plaque is an indispensable daily habit.

In most patients, interdental brushes should complement daily brushing, as these enable cleaning between the teeth – the main places where cavities and gum inflammation occur.

We also recommend the use of a tongue scraper once a week, especially for patients who are smokers.

1-DENTAL SCALING: A NECESSARY VISIT

While effective brushing and good dental hygiene help remove some of the dental plaque and prevent tartar build-up, some areas are difficult to reach – and this is when dental plaque accumulates. Over time, this deposit becomes mineralised, turning into a solid deposit called “tartar”. However regular it might be, ‘simple’ brushing cannot remove it, which is why it is important to remove the tartar, to avoid it accumulating between the teeth or under the gums, which could cause or aggravate dental diseases.

It is therefore recommended to have your teeth professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist once or twice a year. This treatment applies to children and adults alike.

2-STEP DENTAL TREATMENT

Step Two

At Smile and Care, the dental hygienists remove plaque and tartar on the teeth using procedure called “scratching”. Ultrasound is used to remove the vast majority of the tartar, with manual instruments then being used to remove the most resistant residues. These painless procedures enable the elimination of tartar at both teeth and gum level, where tartar deposits are sometimes invisible. The latter tartar is referred to as “sub-gingival scaling”.

Step Two

Using a small rotating brush, our hygienists then polish the teeth, removing any surface stains, leaving your teeth smooth and shiny. This part of the scaling also helps smooth out any slight imperfections of the teeth and avoids the fresh build-up of tartar in the future. Indeed, smooth surfaces on teeth make it more difficult for impurities to stick to them.

At the end of the cleaning session, our dental hygienists might also apply a fluoride treatment, a technique that involves applying a fluoridated varnish or gel directly to the teeth. The fluoride attaches to the tooth enamel, making the teeth more resistant, thereby reducing tooth sensitivities and the risk of caries.

PERSONALISED BRUSHING TIPS

Smile and Care dental hygienists also take the time to improve your brushing technique. Effective brushing is done from the gum down to the tooth. There is no need to brush too hard, either, as this can weaken or irritate the gums.

If you would like to learn more about pedodontics, feel free to contact us to schedule a first consultation : Appointment