Scaling, commonly known as scaling, and the technical term supragingival scaling, refers to the removal of tartar, plaque and stains on the gums with a scaling instrument and polishing of the tooth surface to delay plaque and tartar redeposition. Plaque and calculus are the most important local irritants of periodontal disease, and scaling is the most effective way to remove supragingival plaque and tartar. The following are answers to the questions patients often encounter during scaling.
1. Q: Why do I need dental scaling?
Tartar, smoke, plaque and stains deposited on the teeth are very unattractive and more likely to cause periodontal disease and bad breath, but daily brushing cannot get rid of it, which requires a dentist to use special instruments to scour it away, called scaling.
2.Q: What is tartar?
Plaque combines with calcium and phosphorus ions in saliva to calcify into tartar. It is just like the scale at the bottom of the kettle after boiling water. No matter how well you brush your teeth, tartar will always form after a long time. However, depending on individual differences, some people will have more and some will have less. Those with straight teeth are less prone to brushing. If the teeth are not aligned, there will be more.
3.Q：What kind of equipment is used to clean teeth?
There are three kinds of equipment: ultrasonic scaler, sandblasting scaler and manual scaler. If there is only tartar, the ultrasonic scaler can be used. If there is less tartar and more stains, use sandblasting. If there is a lot of tartar and stains, a combination of ultrasonic and sandblasting is recommended. For those who have a lot of subgingival tartar and poor periodontal condition, manual scaling is recommended one week after ultrasonic scaling. This will give better results.
4.Q：Does scaling hurt my teeth? Why do so many people say that scaling is not good?
The damage of scaling to teeth is quite slight. Compared with the protection of dental health, the small damage is negligible, just as we do not need to worry about washing the bowl will wash the bowl thin. However, the method of scaling is important. It is important to choose a doctor and a dental cleaning assistant. For ultrasonic scaling, the key is to control the angle between the ultrasonic vibrating head and the tooth surface, and not to vibrate for too long at the same point, and to control the power of the scaling machine. The operator’s hand gestures should be gentle. If the action is rough does not damage the teeth is false.
5.Q: Do I need to clean again after one cleaning?
There is no one-and-done thing in this world. Because the teeth are used every day, they will be dirty again.
6.Q：How often is it appropriate to clean my teeth?
About half a year to a year. Depending on the specific situation of your mouth and the advice of your dentist.
7.Q: How long does it take to clean a tooth?
40 minutes to an hour or so. According to your oral specificities. Too short is not right.
8.Q：Why do some people have loose teeth after scaling?
If your teeth have good periodontal condition and less calculus, the correct scaling method will never loosen the teeth. For those who have bad periodontal condition and have a lot of tartar before, it is possible to have this “loose” phenomenon – in fact, it is a normal phenomenon – we compare teeth to a big tree. A big tree depends on the soil next to it for its nutrition. If there is a tree next to it are rocks, then it is also very solid, but because there is no nutrition. In the future, it will slowly die. So we need to remove the stones and give it to cultivate the soil. Although the tree will be a little loose when the rocks are just taken away and replaced with soil. It will be fine when the soil is solid later. The tooth depends on the gum and alveolar bone next to it for its stability and nutrition. If there is tartar next to the tooth, although the tooth is also stable, it will die later because there is no nutrition. Although it is a little loose at the time. It is good for a long time.
9.Q: Why do some people’s teeth become bigger after scaling?
For those who have good periodontal condition, this problem basically does not occur. When you have tartar in your teeth, it is the tartar that is blocking the gap where the flesh is supposed to grow. When you wash out the tartar, the tartar is blocking the gap where the flesh would be. Teeth are like trees. If you remove the stones from the tree, you will feel that the empty gap between your teeth has become bigger!
10.Q: Why do some people’s teeth get sore after a cleaning?
Teeth are like big trees. After removing the stones next to the tree, some of the roots of the tree will be exposed, that is, the roots of the teeth, which are not protected by tooth enamel, so they will be sour. (With a regular scaling, this condition usually does not last. It will disappear within a week. The soreness also depends on the condition of the cervical area of each individual. In 60% of people, the cervical area is enamel surrounded by bone. In 30 percent of people, the enamel and bone are cusp to cusp. In another 10%, the enamel and bone are separated. In the first case, the degree of acidity is minimal. (For the latter case, the degree of acidity is more.)
11.Q: Is it necessary to polish after scaling?
Polishing after scaling is like the effect of waxing after car washing. Ultrasonic scaling will leave small scratches on the tooth surface visible under the microscope, resulting in a fine roughness on the tooth surface, which will be easy to gather stains and tartar, through polishing can make the teeth more shiny. In addition, polishing can also reduce tooth sensitivity after scaling. (When demonstrating to the patient, you can scratch on an object with your fingernail. Tell the client that the marks are invisible to the naked eye. But under a high magnification electron microscope you can definitely see the scratches. Smooth glass does not get dirty easily. It is also easy to scrub when dirty. Gross glass, on the other hand, is not easy to wash. Therefore, the purpose of polishing is to make the surface of the tooth smoother. A smoother surface is less likely to stain. The main reason why some customers are more prone to staining after scaling is that the polishing is not done carefully enough. So, don’t underestimate dental scaling. There are still a lot of requirements. (Therefore, when some guests say that thirty dollars can also clean the teeth, we can only hold a smile.)
12.Q: What should I pay attention to after the dental cleaning?
In the short term, don’t eat too hard food, less contact with too cold, too hot food, so that the teeth have a process of adaptation, loose or sour symptoms will be relieved. (It depends on each case. For those who do not experience any discomfort during the scaling process, there are generally no obvious dietary concerns after the scaling. (Be careful not to drink acidic beverages such as Coca-Cola, colored foods or smoking.)
13.Q: Can I get infected from scaling?
If the instruments are thoroughly disinfected, there is no problem. It is difficult to say in irregular places, but it is dangerous if the instruments are not disinfected.
14.Q：Does it hurt to have my teeth cleaned? Will it bleed?
No, individual teeth may be a bit sour. (When you feel sour, be sure to tell the doctor or assistant. This means that you have sensitive teeth. We also have a solution. Reduce the power of the ultrasonic vibration. If there is still, then change to sandblasting or hand scraping. It can usually be avoided. If you usually bleed when you brush your teeth, you will mostly bleed when you clean your teeth, the degree of which is proportional to the amount of tartar and the degree of gum inflammation.
15.Q: What are the dangers of not scaling regularly?
Tartar, tobacco plaque, plaque, staying by the gums for a long time will produce a large number of bacteria, stimulating gum inflammation, bleeding, swelling, leading to bad breath, furthermore, it will destroy the bone around the roots, making the gums shrink the roots exposed, the teeth loose and fall off.
When more and more dentists appear. When more and more outpatient clinics appear. We can only do each step a little better. Even the cleaning of teeth should be done carefully to be right. People clean their teeth painfully, we clean them painlessly. It will be different. I believe that in the future society, everything speaks from strength. These things would not have been difficult. The key is the attitude. An honest attitude. Strict requirements for themselves. Take the patient’s teeth as their own teeth. The patient will feel it.