Chemical method of tartar removal

Almost every one of us has encountered the problem of hard plaque build-up on tooth enamel at least once. Some people are not particularly worried about it, which is a completely wrong position. Tartar can lead to negative and sometimes even simply horrific consequences. Minor problems with tartar include an unaesthetic appearance of teeth and an unpleasant odor from the mouth. More serious consequences can be bleeding gums and loose teeth. This happens because tartar displaces the gum tissue, thereby exposing the root of the tooth. Well, the saddest result of the long-term presence of hardened plaque can be the loss of completely healthy teeth. So you decided to go to the dentist for a consultation, and he offered you a chemical method of removing tartar. Should you agree? Is this method dangerous? Is it expensive? Now we will tell you everything about this method in detail.

Indications for the use of chemical method of removing tartar

Chemical tartar removal is not a stand-alone procedure. It is usually used in conjunction with other methods, such as ultrasonic plaque removal and the Air Flow method. You may ask yourself, "If the chemical method alone cannot clean teeth, then why use it?" When using ultrasonic plaque removal, it is sometimes very difficult to crush thick areas of tartar, so chemicals are used to soften and thin it. There are also cases when it is impossible to use any other method of cleaning teeth except chemical. For example, this method is used when teeth are very loose, there are a large number of fillings, crowns, implants and other problems. How does the chemical tartar removal procedure work? First, the dentist examines the oral cavity for various problems (stomatitis, large carious cavities, enamel chips). Then he talks about the possibility of the procedure. If you get the go-ahead, the doctor installs a special protection on the lips and gums so as not to injure them with chemicals. Next, the chemical substance itself is applied. Alkali and acid solutions are used to clean teeth from hardened soft plaque. The most common of these are Depuration Solution and Detartrol ultra. These chemicals contain concentrated hydrochloric acid, chloroform and iodine (for disinfecting and coloring tartar). There is also a special gel that softens tartar, based on a natural polysaccharide - Belagel-R. These products are applied to the surface of the hard plaque for a short time from 30 to 60 seconds. After the time has elapsed, the solution is neutralized or washed off with ordinary water, after which the teeth are cleaned using an ultrasonic method, the Air Flow method or special circular brushes (if other procedures are impossible). After the procedure, a special coating is applied to the teeth, protecting the teeth from the effects of aggressive substances and preventing the unpleasant sensations of tooth sensitivity.

Advantages of using chemical method of removing tartar

There are actually many advantages to using the chemical method for cleaning teeth. Firstly, this procedure is completely painless. The process does not produce any frightening sounds, you do not feel any pressure on the gums, while the tartar softens and easily falls off the tooth. Secondly, the procedure takes a minimum of time, which is why this option is suitable for people who categorically cannot stand dental offices. Thirdly, acids affect tooth enamel, whitening it by 2-3 tones, and if you have a smoker's plaque or coffee lover's plaque, then the chemical method of removing tartar will perfectly get rid of this trouble. Well, and fourthly, this is the low cost of this method. It would seem that from the above we can conclude that, probably, the chemical method of cleaning teeth from hardened soft plaque is an ideal method. But in every barrel of honey, unfortunately, there is a fly in the ointment, which we will discuss below.

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Disadvantages of chemical tartar removal

The chemical method of removing tartar has only one drawback, but it is very significant. The fact is that acids act very aggressively on tooth enamel, washing away calcium and fluoride ions, thus completely destroying the protective layer of the tooth surface. Tooth enamel becomes sensitive and porous, and when any aggressive substances, such as hot and cold water, sweet and salty food, come into contact with it, it can cause severe pain. Therefore, applying chemicals requires great caution and strict adherence to the action time. The chemical method of cleaning teeth cannot be used to remove soft plaque in the interdental spaces, since it does not prevent the action of acids on the enamel at all.

Contraindications to the use of chemical methods of removing tartar

There are a number of contraindications for which the chemical method of removing tartar is undesirable, namely in case of inflammatory processes on the gums, as well as for children and persons under 18 years of age (because it is up to this age that tooth enamel reaches its maximum thickness).

Complete contraindications to the chemical method of cleaning teeth from hardened soft plaque include:

• an allergic reaction to one of the components of the substance used to remove hardened plaque;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding (the drugs contain substances that may harm the health of the child);
• the presence of orthopedic structures and braces (they may oxidize during the application of the drug);
• sensitive thin tooth enamel (application of chemicals can only worsen the situation);
• severe form of epilepsy or asthma attack;
• presence of acute respiratory diseases;
• difficulty breathing through the nose.

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Cost of chemical tartar removal procedure

Chemical removal of hard deposits is not used independently, so it is difficult to talk about the specific cost. Usually this procedure is combined with ultrasonic cleaning or removal of hard plaque by the Air Flow method. A set of such procedures in Kyiv dental clinics can range from 500 UAH to 800 UAH. In dental offices in other cities, this procedure will "pull" less money, namely 300-500 UAH.

Reviews of chemical tartar removal

Firstly: after using the chemical method of removing tartar, you should refrain from eating food that can stain your tooth enamel (beets, fruit juices, coffee, tea, etc.) for several days, and also quit smoking. Secondly: after the procedure, it is recommended to apply a special protective fluoride varnish to the surface of your teeth, which will help prevent further cracking of the enamel and saturate it with useful substances. Thirdly: this method is recommended to be used only in extreme cases, when other methods are unavailable or impossible for some reason.

Recently, dentists have begun to abandon the chemical method of removing hardened soft plaque, since the harm caused is disproportionately greater than the apparent benefits of the procedure.