Professional teeth cleaning

Professional teeth cleaning is a dental procedure, the essence of which is the removal of dental deposits, especially tartar, as well as the removal of various types of plaque on the teeth.

By its nature, tartar is formed from plaque in hard-to-reach places that cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush at home. The basis of the tartar is bacteria, food debris, phosphorus, iron and calcium salts. Over time, dark spots begin to appear on the teeth, which clearly indicate the need to visit the dentist. Professional cleaning is a very important procedure, as it can prevent caries, give teeth a healthy look and natural smoothness. Do not confuse cleaning with teeth whitening, as these are two different procedures that are relatively aimed at different results.

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Types of professional teeth cleaning

In dental practice, there are now several types of professional teeth cleaning, the main ones being ultrasonic scaler cleaning, laser cleaning, air flow cleaning, and manual cleaning, or more simply, hygienic cleaning. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and all of the above methods are designed to eliminate certain problems depending on their severity. Briefly, the following can be said about each type of cleaning:

• Ultrasonic scaler cleaning can, in addition to removing tartar, also improve gum condition and stop bleeding. This cleaning has a number of contraindications.
• Laser cleaning has the ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria and promote the healing of various types of ulcers on the gums and in the oral cavity.
• Cleaning with the "air flow" device is carried out using a stream of air and with the additional use of an abrasive. This cleaning has some contraindications.
• Hygienic cleaning is a method of removing plaque using special dental hooks and brushes. The method is very gentle and is not aimed directly at removing tartar. It is not popular today due to the availability of other, more effective cleaning methods.

The bottom line of the above information is that professional teeth cleaning has several varieties and therefore only your dentist can choose the cleaning method that is right for you.

Professional teeth cleaning air flow

Professional teeth cleaning "air flow" is carried out with the help of a special device, which involves cleaning teeth using a powerful air stream. Under high pressure, the air stream destroys plaque, tartar, as well as traces of smoking and food colorings. Therefore, very often after this procedure, teeth become several tones lighter, but you should not expect noticeable whiteness of teeth from the procedure - the doctor only removes plaque on the teeth and the enamel acquires its normal natural shade. For the best effect, water and an abrasive are used during the procedure, soda is used as an abrasive, which, as is known, does not harm the enamel. The advantage of the procedure is that it is faster in comparison with other cleaning methods, and also has a longer-lasting effect.

One of the varieties of "air flow" is the "perio-flow" method, which is aimed at removing tartar located under the gums. During this procedure, soda is replaced with an even softer glycine-based powder. A contraindication to the use of the "perio-flow" procedure is gum disease, since the procedure can lead to their more severe inflammation.

Professional Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning

Another type of professional teeth cleaning is ultrasonic cleaning. It is carried out using a special device that produces wave-like vibrations and directs them to the tip of the ultrasonic scaler (hook). Under the influence of ultrasound, tartar begins to crumble and fall off the tooth enamel. But along with removing tartar, ultrasound causes some kind of vibrations that can heat the tooth and thereby cause significant discomfort, so to avoid this, a water jet is used in parallel. Thanks to this, micro pieces of plaque are removed and, in turn, the tooth is cooled. Some more functional and improved devices for ultrasonic cleaning can remove even the plaque that is under the gum and thereby improve the health of the gums. Professional ultrasonic cleaning for normal healthy teeth is tolerated calmly and painlessly, but if the patient has diseases of the teeth and gums as well as their sensitivity, then in this case the procedure is contraindicated, as it can cause severe pain and exacerbation of diseases.

Professional laser teeth cleaning

Professional laser teeth cleaning has a mechanism of action that is directly related to the difference in the water content of tooth enamel and tartar. In any case, the amount of moisture in tartar is significantly higher than in enamel, so the laser beam promotes an instant "explosive boiling" of the moisture in the tartar with subsequent crushing of the tartar. Along with removing plaque and tartar, the laser beam has a bactericidal effect on the teeth, gums and the entire oral cavity as a whole and thereby removes pathogenic bacteria. After laser cleaning, tooth enamel becomes more permeable to medicinal preparations and, accordingly, tooth enamel is strengthened. After the procedure, various types of plaque are removed, even that which is located in hard-to-reach places, and the color of the enamel can become 1-2 tones lighter. But do not confuse laser cleaning with laser whitening.

Professional hygienic teeth cleaning

Despite the fact that in the modern world there is a huge mass of means and methods for hygienic cleaning of teeth at home, it is still not possible to perfectly 100% clean teeth from plaque. At home, using a toothbrush, we can remove only 60% of plaque, and the remaining 40% of plaque is in hard-to-reach places such as the subgingival space and interdental spaces. These 40% of plaque are completely enough to provoke caries and inflammation of the gums, and this plaque over time is subject to the process of mineralization and turns into tartar. Hygienic cleaning is carried out with special dental hooks and brushes. The procedure as a whole can prevent the appearance of caries and provide natural smoothness and whiteness of teeth. Hygienic cleaning is carried out 2-3 times a year and it has no special contraindications.

Recommendations after professional teeth cleaning

Very often, after professional teeth cleaning, there may be increased sensitivity of teeth and bleeding gums. These are temporary phenomena that should not cause you any concern. If necessary, for preventive purposes, you can apply Metrogyl Denta gel to the gums, which is an antimicrobial and antiseptic agent for local use. The gel is applied for a week 2 times a day after brushing your teeth. You can also rinse your mouth with a 0.2% solution of chlorhexidine or Givalex. But it is very important to take into account the fact that you cannot rinse your mouth with alcohol-containing solutions in the first week after professional cleaning. Also, dentists recommend using soft toothbrushes in the first week and then gradually switch to medium-hardness brushes. It is also recommended to use dental floss daily. If you use an irrigator, it should be used starting with the lowest power.

What should you not do after professional teeth cleaning?

After professional cleaning, due to tooth sensitivity, dentists strongly recommend against smoking, eating foods that contain natural or artificial dyes - coffee, black and green tea, red wine, carrots, beets, currants, blueberries, mulberries and other similar products. You should also avoid drinking drinks that can increase tooth sensitivity - juices, carbonated drinks, apples, lemons and other products containing acid. It is also not recommended to use a hard toothbrush or rinse your mouth with alcohol-containing rinses.

Contraindications to professional teeth cleaning

Based on the fact that professional teeth cleaning has many positive effects, it is worth noting that it also has some contraindications to its use. And most often these contraindications are not common to everyone, but are associated with the individual characteristics of the teeth and gums. Among them:

• Increased sensitivity of tooth enamel and gums, in this case the procedure promises to be very painful.
• Previously acquired and untreated diseases of the oral cavity such as periodontosis, gingivitis, periodontitis.
• Childhood and adolescence.
• Viral and infectious diseases such as bronchitis, tonsillitis, acute respiratory viral infections.
• Allergic reactions to medications used during the procedure.
• The presence of artificial teeth on implants.
• Arrhythmia (rapid heart rate).
• Infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis.
• The presence of multiple caries.

Therefore, before making a decision about cleaning, it is worth informing the dentist about the presence of certain diseases in the body, even if they are not directly related to dentistry.

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Is professional teeth cleaning harmful?

Today, there is a lot of controversy about whether professional teeth cleaning is harmful. Here it would be very appropriate to mention the proverb "The difference between benefit and harm is determined by the measure", since teeth cleaning should be done no more than once every six months. Only then will it not cause any potential harm to dental health. The only exceptions are those cases when a person has crowns, dentures, bridge structures. In such cases, bacterial plaque and tartar form faster and therefore professional cleaning should be done every 3-4 months. This procedure itself is useful and cannot cause harm, except that individual characteristics of the teeth may be an exception. The essence of the procedure is the removal of plaque and tartar, which are actually the main causes of caries, while the enamel is not damaged. First, the tartar is removed with special tools manually, or with the help of ultrasonic equipment. Then the plaque is removed with special brushes and a special toothpaste. Next, the teeth are covered with fluoride varnish to strengthen the enamel. The result of the procedure is healthy teeth without plaque and tartar, as well as the absence of any bad breath, so the benefits of this procedure are obvious, and professional teeth cleaning does not carry any potential harm.

Professional teeth cleaning during pregnancy

During pregnancy, professional cleaning is not a contraindication, but rather a recommended procedure. The reason for this is the changes in the body during pregnancy, and especially the change in the condition of the teeth. During pregnancy, teeth very often become weaker and more vulnerable to various types of bacteria, so their professional cleaning serves as a preventive measure against the formation of tartar, plaque and bacteria. Cleaning during pregnancy is safe and does not affect the general health of the mother and child. Also, no medications are used during the procedure.

Reviews of professional teeth cleaning

Professional teeth cleaning is very popular among the population today, and therefore most reviews about it are positive. Most people say that after cleaning their teeth, there is a constant feeling of freshness in the oral cavity, the teeth become very smooth and acquire a natural whiteness. The only unpleasant moment may be only a temporary increase in sensitivity.

Professional teeth cleaning is a very useful and necessary procedure. It can completely remove tartar and plaque, thereby making teeth healthier. It is carried out once every six months, and if necessary and there are dental indications - then more often. Professional cleaning can prevent gum disease, caries and other dental diseases. The procedure does not destroy tooth enamel, is not painful and does not entail any negative consequences.