Cleaning teeth from stone: techniques and their effectiveness

1. What is tartar
2. How is tartar formed?
3. Types of Tartar
4. Symptoms and consequences of tartar
5. How to prevent tartar formation
6. Methods for removing tartar
7. How is tartar removal performed?
8. Removing tartar at home
9. Side effects from scaling
10. Proper brushing of teeth
11. Prices for tartar removal in Moscow

What is tartar and what is the cause of the disease. What methods will help eliminate this aesthetic problem. Is it possible to remove formations without resorting to the help of a dentist?

What is tartar

Tartar is a formation that is a keratinized plaque consisting of poorly removed food debris, calcium, phosphorus and iron salts covered with a biofilm of dead bacteria.

You can find fossilized food deposits over the entire surface of the dentition, but most often the concentration is on the lower incisors, closer to the gums and on the sides.

Please note that tartar can penetrate the back wall and inside the gums. It is usually found in hard-to-reach places where it is impossible to remove food debris with a toothbrush.

When it might be painful or unpleasant

Ultrasonic cleaning is a modern, effective method with minimal trauma. Most patients tolerate the process without discomfort.

Pain when cleaning with ultrasound

Pain can occur due to individual characteristics or due to erroneous actions of the doctor.

Features include thin, sensitive enamel - a semblance of shocks and pressure is felt. Weakened gums that are prone to bleeding are easily subject to microdamage and painful sensations appear. If there is extensive subgingival calculus, the doctor works in this area for a long time, which can also lead to discomfort.

Is there any discomfort during laser cleaning?

This method does not cause pain. The laser beam destroys pigments and evaporates water in hard and soft deposits. Their remains are washed off from the surface with water. In this case, there is no effect on the enamel. Gum pockets are not treated with laser; therefore, there is no contact with soft tissues.

Features of chemical tartar removal

The method is rarely used, because has few advantages, including speed and affordable price. Chemical removal has more disadvantages: thinning of the enamel, possible burns of the mucous membrane if performed incorrectly, poor cleaning of the interdental space, allergies to the products used, oxidation of orthodontic metal structures.

Sequencing:

• installation of protective plates on the gums,
• applying acidic and alkaline compounds for 2-3 minutes,
• rinsing, polishing, fluoridation.

Chemical removal of tartar

How painful is it to remove stone manually?

This contact method can only be painful if the doctor's hand accidentally slips and the instrument scratches the gum. Also, the disadvantages include incomplete removal of plaque and stone in hard-to-reach places. Mechanical cleaning is contraindicated for thin, sensitive enamel, inflammation of the gums, and infectious lesions of the mucous membrane.

Nowadays, dentists recommend removing tartar manually less and less often.

How is tartar formed?

Food particles attach to tooth enamel. Most often from soft and sticky foods, such as flour products.

Under the influence of saliva, a film of glycoproteins is formed; if you do not rinse or brush your teeth, then after 4 hours streptococci bacteria come into play, and actinomycetes join them. After 2 days, streptococci decrease, but the number of anaerobic bacteria increases. After 7 days, spirochetes and motile rods appear.

Remains of food and the bacteria that multiply on them are gradually covered with a film of saliva, smoothed out and hardened. Tartar grows because new layers are added to existing particles.

Fermentation and metabolism processes occur under dental plaque, during which acids are formed. They weaken tooth enamel so that tooth decay can develop over time.

Tartar can also cause bad breath.

Plaque can eventually turn into tartar through mineralization—minerals from saliva are deposited in plaque and make it very hard.

This is how complications arise; as a result of a neglected condition, you can lose a healthy tooth, but ringed with plaque.

The rate of mineralization varies from person to person. It all depends on the following factors:

• the amount of saliva produced;
• its composition and activity of secretions;
• quality of oral hygiene;
• nutritional characteristics;
• violation of salt exchange in the body;
• wearing dental structures (prostheses);

The predominance of solid foods (raw vegetables) significantly reduces the development of plaque. The products act as a cleaning agent, helping to remove dirt from the enamel. Chewing for a long time releases more saliva, which has an antibacterial effect.

Contraindications

Contraindications for hardware teeth cleaning include:

• wearing dentures and braces;
• the presence of implants in the body, including pacemakers;
• ARVI, active stage of tuberculosis, HIV infection;
• oncological diseases;
• pregnancy (or with the permission of an obstetrician-gynecologist);
• childhood, until all baby teeth are replaced.
• pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to dental cleaning. Dental procedures can be performed during a satisfactory pregnancy with the permission of an obstetrician-gynecologist. If there is a threat of miscarriage or other serious conditions, it will be recommended to postpone the removal of stone deposits and the beauty of the smile.

Types of Tartar

Fossils on enamel come in different types depending on location. So they distinguish:

• supragingival stones - formed on the first molars (lateral) and front or lower teeth;
• subgingival - hard areas that penetrate soft tissue;
• stone bridge – covering the main and adjacent teeth.

Symptoms and consequences of tartar

Patients experience the following symptoms:

• bad breath;
• bleeding gums;
• caries;
• purulent discharge;
• gingivitis;
• pulpitis;
• periodontitis – inflammation of tissue areas near the root of the tooth;
• mobility and tooth loss.

Gingivitis

The initial form of gum disease.

If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, which is a serious, irreversible gum disease and the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.

The main 4 signs of gingivitis:

1. Bleeding gums. Healthy gums do not bleed. If blood comes out when using a toothbrush or floss, this may indicate the onset of gingivitis. Even if it happens from time to time. The symptom should not be ignored as it may be a sign of the onset of gum disease.
2. Unpleasant smell. There are many reasons for a bad odor: specific foods, poor hygiene, but it can also be the first sign of gingivitis. This is due to the fact that the bacteria that cause gum disease produce an unpleasant odor by breaking down food particles in the mouth.
3. Swollen gums. They are usually pink and firm. Redness and swelling may indicate the onset of the disease.
4. Receding gums. They begin to separate, and the root of the tooth is exposed, the incisors appear longer. Increased sensitivity is another sign.

A common cause of toothache is inflammation of the dental nerve, called pulpitis. Anyone suffering from this should seek help from a dentist as soon as possible.

Pulpitis

In acute pulpitis, pain usually occurs spontaneously. The pain may be constant or occur periodically. In rare cases, the inflammatory process is completely painless.

If the affected tooth is sensitive to pressure and impact, this is a sign of a dead dental nerve. It hurts when you touch the tongue, but especially when you squeeze it. The pain is often worse at night, as the warmth of the bed increases the inflammatory process. If left untreated, bacteria from the medullary cavity of the tooth can penetrate through the hole at the root tip into the surrounding bone and soft tissue. Accordingly, inflammation spreads, the cheek and lymph nodes swell.

Periodontitis

Periodontal disease is defined as chronic inflammatory disease of the gums. It is mainly caused by bacterial plaque (biofilm, plaque), especially in old age.

As a result of inflammation, your teeth may hurt and your gums may bleed more easily. If left untreated, periodontitis can also lead to tooth loss.

Patients with periodontitis usually show few symptoms at first. However, some signs may indicate the disease:

• bleeding gums;
• red and swollen gums;
• Gum recession;
• open and sensitive necks of teeth;
• putrid odor from the mouth;
• unpleasant taste, especially when pus leaks from the inflamed areas;
• The spaces between the teeth widen;
• loose teeth, misaligned teeth.

Symptoms

Symptomatic manifestations of tartar:

• The appearance of dark circles and spots on the enamel.
• A characteristic manifestation is an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity (even after brushing).
• Redness of the gums.
• The appearance of a blue tint on the gums.
• The appearance of blood during brushing or mechanical impact on the gums (for example, while a person eats apples).
• Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity with itching and pain.

At the very beginning of its formation, tartar forms around the neck of the tooth. Visually, it looks like a yellow or brown rim. If no action is taken to eliminate it, the plaque will spread to the crown and then to the periodontal pocket.

How to prevent tartar formation

By observing good oral hygiene, you can prevent the (re)formation of tartar:

1. Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day using a good manual or electric toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
2. Clean between teeth once a day using dental floss or interdental brushes.
3. With these measures it is possible to prevent the formation of plaque and therefore tartar, as well as to prevent tooth discoloration and decay.

Preventive measures

The best method of prevention is careful hygiene. Basic rules that should be followed to prevent the formation of stones and other problems with teeth are as follows:

1. Teeth must be brushed after every meal;
2. Before using the paste, you should use dental floss, since the brush cannot penetrate into all the spaces between the teeth;
3. If you can't floss outside the home, you can chew chewing gum.

Methods for removing tartar

1. Physical method. Consists of mechanical destruction of deposits using a dental instrument with a thin tip. Modern medicine uses the Air flow system. Fine particles of soda are applied under high pressure, causing a stream of air containing the powder to knock the fossils off the tooth. A subsequent stream of water washes away the separated particles.

2. Chemical method. Allows you to remove formations with the help of compounds that dissolve the basis of tartar - deposits of mineral salts. A composition is applied to the teeth that softens plaque, but does not cause significant harm to the enamel. Then the impurities are removed.

3. Ultrasound. Ultrasonic waves do not injure teeth and gums. Contraindicated in patients using a pacemaker.

4. Laser. The laser method can be used specifically in dentistry for various procedures. It is one of the most effective and expensive procedures. The laser beam is very thin and can be used precisely. This way, only truly unwanted tissue is destroyed. Healthy tissues are preserved. Local anesthesia is often not required. Laser treatment does not cause noise or vibration like drilling. The virtually painless treatment is especially suitable for anxious patients.

Ultrasonic toothbrushes

Recently, a new gadget has appeared on the market - an ultrasonic toothbrush. In addition to mechanical cleaning, this brush provides ultrasonic treatment of hard-to-reach areas of the tooth and gums to a depth of up to 4 mm. Ultrasonic waves destroy bacteria and effectively remove pigmentation and deposits when mineralization begins. However, such a brush cannot remove formed tartar; this can only be done by a specialist using professional equipment. In addition, the use of an ultrasonic brush is effective and safe only for people with absolutely healthy teeth.

How is tartar removal performed?

At the first stage, the presence or absence of allergies in the patient to drugs will be determined.

Then the degree of sensitivity of the teeth is determined, and an anesthetic is applied as necessary.

The method by which the procedure will be carried out is selected.

For rough tartar removal, an ultrasonic scaler is often used first. This is followed by processing with special hand tools to remove stubborn dirt.

The enamel is cleaned of residual particles of contamination and the doctor begins to polish the teeth so that the surface is completely smooth.

Small irregularities and areas of rougher texture on the teeth are also smoothed out, providing protection against further plaque buildup.

The enamel of the teeth is coated with varnish.

After the work has been done, the dentist will advise how often you should plan to remove tartar.

It should be noted that professional cleaning is only intended to be an addition to daily thorough oral hygiene and should in no way be considered a replacement for brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.

After the procedure

At the end of the procedure, regardless of the method of stone removal, the dentist must grind and thoroughly polish the enamel.

Sometimes, at the request of the patient, after cleaning, the teeth are coated with a special protective composition against infection and plaque buildup.

Within 15 days after cleaning:

• Do not use bleaching abrasive pastes;
• the use of toothpastes from the “sensitive” series, based on herbs and with an anti-inflammatory effect, is indicated;
• rinses with astringent and soothing properties are recommended;
• Do not eat spicy foods or dyes;
• categorically give up smoking or at least abstain for this period.

Removing tartar at home

Home remedies for tartar can be useful for removing soft plaque without the help of a dentist.

If there is already a hard coating, then you should definitely seek treatment from a specialist. Trying to pick out deposits on your own will not work. As a result, the enamel will only be damaged. It cannot be restored.

1. Vinegar and lemon. The acid contained in vinegar and lemon acts against tartar. However, the taste is unpleasant, and the acid has an aggressive effect on tooth enamel. These home remedies should be used no more than once a month.

1. Baking powder. The crystals found in baking powder and baking soda act like sandpaper and remove unwanted coating. Dip your fingertip in baking soda and vigorously rub the affected areas. However, the powder can potentially damage healthy gums and tooth enamel.

1. Tea tree oil. Rinse your teeth thoroughly with a solution of 1-2 drops in a glass of warm water.

1. Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute and, as an ingredient in chewing gum, can support oral hygiene. Research shows that xylitol is beneficial for dental health.

1. Tincture of myrrh. Has a preventive effect. Brush sensitive areas along the gum line to reduce acid buildup. The liquid is also used for gum inflammation caused by tartar or its removal.

1. Coconut oil and olive oil. Take one or two tablespoons of natural oil into your mouth and thoroughly rub the liquid between your teeth for several minutes. You must be careful not to swallow it and then rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water.

1. Sesame seeds. Chewing sesame seeds vigorously provides the body with healthy fats and also helps against the formation of tartar. Apply the well-fertilized seed paste several times to the affected areas of the teeth, using your tongue as a tool to create the necessary friction for grinding.

1. Celandine. A good remedy not only for skin diseases, but also helps cleanse teeth of plaque. Prepare a decoction and rinse your mouth without swallowing. The plant contains toxins that can harm the stomach.

1. A mixture of lemon juice and black radish. Suitable for treatment and preventive measures. Apply to teeth, then rinse with warm water. You cannot clean with a brush after acidic juice, because it softens not only the stones, but also the enamel. You need to wait 30 minutes.
2. Decoction of burdock and green beans. Burdock can be picked locally or purchased dry crushed leaves at the pharmacy. The combination of these plants will help soften the stratum corneum.
3. Dental floss. You can use it to thoroughly and permanently clean hard-to-reach spaces between teeth.

Side effects from scaling

These effects can appear after professional removal and when using folk remedies.

1. Uncomfortable sensitivity from ultrasound: Some patients are sensitive to pain from ultrasound because the dental nerve or gums may be irritated. In addition, some people are bothered by accompanying sounds.
2. Temperature Sensitivity: Once plaque is removed, teeth may be more sensitive to stimuli such as cold or heat. This is because tartar protects the tooth from these irritants. After removal, he first needs to get used to the intensity of the stimuli.
3. Loose teeth: If you begin to notice loose teeth after tartar removal, especially the incisors, this may be a sign of periodontitis, which was previously unrecognized because the tartar was holding the teeth together. Depending on the severity of periodontitis, the dentist treats the bacterial infection of the periodontium with medications.

Main stages of ultrasonic processing

The dentist conducts an examination, identifies places where tartar accumulates, the amount, and determines its density in order to choose the appropriate cleaning regimen. Sometimes teeth are treated with a special solution that reveals the boundaries of plaque. If the patient has sensitive teeth, gums or deep subgingival calculus, anesthesia (injection or application) is performed.

Stone removal is carried out in three stages:

Brushing teeth with a skyler

Skyler is a dental instrument that generates ultrasonic air vibrations. Water (an antiseptic solution) mixed with air is sprayed through a narrow nozzle. The liquid is intended to cool the tooth and wash away the separated plaque.

The ultrasonic wave forms cavities in mineralized deposits, the plaque cracks and peels off from the enamel. The fragments are removed with a saliva ejector.

First, the doctor cleans the crowns, then the subgingival area, guiding the scaler with parallel vertical movements.

Brushing teeth with a skyler

Polishing

Cleaned teeth have a rough surface. To slow down the adhesion of food and bacteria, polishing is used.

Main types:

• Mechanical with special paste and a round elastic brush. The interdental spaces are polished with thin strips or narrow spiral-shaped brushes.
• Hardware using the AirFlow method - using a powerful jet of water with an abrasive containing sodium bicarbonate.

Brushing your teeth with a special paste and a round brush

Fluoridation

Fluoridation helps strengthen enamel and reduce hyperesthesia (sensitivity) in the cervical area.

1. The tooth surface is dried with a stream of warm air for better adhesion.
2. Apply a composition containing fluoride ions (gel or varnish) and dry again.
3. The teeth are treated with a swab soaked in copper hydroxide and calcium solution. The substances enter into a chemical reaction, and calcium fluoride crystals are formed in the dentinal tubules and other irregularities, which strengthen the tooth tissue and prevent infection.

Proper brushing of teeth to remove plaque

Bass technique has been developed to remove food debris from the gum area. It is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. Apply paste to brush
2. Rinse your mouth with water
3. Position the brush parallel to the teeth
4. Slightly tilt the brush approximately 45 degrees.
5. Move the device without pressing
6. Then move in a circle, trying to get the bristles between the teeth
7. Go over the entire jaw 15-20 times
8. Move in a circular motion along the side teeth
9. Do not ignore your tongue; 80% of pollution accumulates on it.
10. Remove plaque from tongue
11. There are brushes with a rough or bumpy back wall, specially made for cleaning this organ.
12. After the outer part is completed, it is necessary to move on to the back wall of the incisors and molars. To do this, the brush is placed vertically with its bristles.
13. It is recommended to carry out the procedure near a mirror to see the correctness of your actions.

As you can see, problems in the oral cavity and teeth occur in most cases due to non-compliance with hygiene rules.

Residues of food and the accumulation of bacteria on them create a plaque that hardens over time and cannot be removed by regular cleaning.

This is not only an aesthetic defect, but also serves as the basis for the development of dangerous diseases.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and regular dental check-ups will help reduce the risk of formations.

Contraindications to ultrasonic brushes

Due to the presence of ultrasonic microvibration, the use of such brushes is not recommended for persons:

• with veneers, fillings and crowns, as their service life is reduced;
• with areas of loose and porous enamel, due to the fact that the development of the carious process accelerates due to the destruction of defective enamel;
• with gingivitis and periodontitis, due to the increased spread of infection by hematogenous route;
• with periodontal disease, as the process of bone destruction accelerates;
• having precancerous changes and cancer, due to the acceleration of the division of atypical cells.

These significant drawbacks significantly limit the use of ultrasonic brushes, since almost 95% of the adult population have certain problems. It is also not recommended to use any power brushes during pregnancy or for people with pacemakers.

Prices for tartar removal in Moscow