Professional teeth cleaning: types, features, contraindications

Why is the procedure needed?

Professional teeth cleaning is a preventive and aesthetic procedure. It solves 7 problems at once:

• prevents the development of caries and inflammatory gum diseases;
• makes teeth whiter;
• carried out as preparation for complex dental treatment (implantation, bite correction, prosthetics);
• adds self-confidence;
• reduces the risk of complications after complex dental treatment;
• removes dark marks caused by coffee, cigarettes and food dyes;
• solves the problem of bad breath if it is caused by tartar.

During home brushing, mineralized plaque remains on the teeth. It can only be removed using professional tools and methods. Therefore, dental cleaning is a necessary procedure for anyone who wants to maintain healthy teeth.

How often should I clean?

Hygienic cleaning must be carried out every morning and evening. Professionally, the procedure is carried out once every six months. This is enough to maintain the result. Additionally, cleaning may be necessary before undergoing complex dental treatment or if you regularly drink coffee or smoke cigarettes.

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The opposite effect is tooth sensitivity and bleeding gums.

If you read reviews about professional hygienic teeth cleaning on the Internet, you can easily see that not everyone benefits from it. Increased sensitivity of teeth, cracked enamel, inflamed gums and fallen fillings - this is an incomplete list of complications that may occur. But the reason for their occurrence lies not in the procedure itself, but in the unprofessionalism of the doctors who prescribe and carry it out. Occupational hygiene is not a panacea; it cannot be done for everyone without prior consultation with a specialist. For each patient, its frequency and methodology should be purely individual. Therefore, it is better to try to find a good dentist and hygienist than to completely refuse professional hygiene.

Types and differences

Professional teeth cleaning can be done in a variety of ways. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. The patient’s wishes are taken into account when choosing a technique, but the final decision is made by the doctor, taking into account contraindications and the condition of the teeth.

Ultrasonic

The most effective way to remove solid deposits is ultrasonic cleaning. With its help, tartar is removed. A special device is used for this: it can be built into the dental unit or made as a separate unit. This is an ultrasonic scaler.

There is a working nozzle at the tip of the device. Its tip makes oscillatory movements at an ultrasonic frequency of 25-50 kHz. Additionally, water or an antiseptic solution is supplied to the nozzle. They enhance the cleansing effect due to cavitation - vibrations of water dipoles with the formation of bubbles. Excess fluid is removed using a saliva ejector.

Ultrasonic cleaning, when carried out correctly, does not damage the enamel. It allows you to remove not only tartar, but also bacteria due to the supply of an antiseptic solution and the bactericidal effect of cavitation. Supra- and subgingival deposits are also removed. The procedure is absolutely painless and comfortable.

Laser teeth cleaning

Teeth cleaning with a laser is quick. The beam is directed onto the surface of the teeth, causing the water in the plaque to evaporate. Residues are washed off with a water jet under pressure.

Teeth cleaning with a laser requires expensive equipment. It is significantly higher in price than the others.

Sandblasting

Teeth cleaning by sandblasting is carried out using an Air Flow device. This is a modern and effective way to remove old plaque. For cleaning you need a device with attachments, a mixture of fine abrasive and a fixing gel. Cleansing powders are produced with pleasant flavors, which makes the procedure more comfortable.

Hygiene with Air Flow is not suitable for removing tartar. But the device copes well with old soft plaque. It does not harm enamel, but should be used with caution in people with sensitive gums.

Ultrasound teeth cleaning method

The effect of ultrasound on tartar greatly facilitates the process of their removal. The procedure is faster and less tiring for the patient; it can be used to remove both subgingival and supragingival deposits. An important advantage of ultrasound is its antibacterial and antimicrobial effect on almost all microorganisms in the oral cavity.

The ultrasound waves used for cleaning are completely safe for the oral cavity. In addition, there are various attachments for the emitter that allow you to most effectively remove plaque and tartar even in the most difficult areas of the jaw. In this case, the tartar not only flakes off, but is also partially destroyed. What is important when removing it from periodontal pockets, since instrumental treatment of these places will be quite traumatic and painful for the patient. The gentle impact of ultrasound allows for a gentle effect on tooth root cement and enamel.

In parallel with ultrasonic vibrations, a stream of liquid is supplied to the oral cavity, washing away all remnants of stones and plaque from the interdental spaces and gum pockets.

Usually, just one session of professional teeth cleaning with an ultrasonic dentist is enough to remove all hard and soft deposits. In addition, this also causes partial lightening of hard tissues.

This cleaning method has practically no disadvantages, however, there are contraindications to ultrasonic teeth cleaning:

• A pacemaker installed in the patient;
• The presence of renal, pulmonary and liver failure;
• The presence of cardiovascular diseases in a severe stage;
• Extensive demineralization of enamel;
• Purulent diseases of periodontal and oral mucosa;
• Installed orthopedic structures, especially those made using metals;
• Multiple caries and its various complications with the formation of purulent exudate.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning is very accessible in dentistry, which is explained by the following points:

1. There are many companies offering devices for this method in dentistry;
2. The cost of services using ultrasound is not very high. Many dentists offer professional teeth cleaning with ultrasound at a price from 1200 to 4000 rubles, the cost varies depending on the amount of work.

The effect of the ultrasonic cleaning procedure lasts for at least 1 year, provided the patient follows the recommendations for careful home dental care.

Dry cleaning

For professional hygiene, a special gel containing acid and hydrogen is applied to the teeth. The composition is kept for several minutes. Under the influence of chemicals, tartar is destroyed. It is then easily cleaned off with water.

The technique is painless and effective, but plaque in the interdental spaces cannot be removed in this way. The composition also has an adverse effect on the gums, so it is better not to use it for people with closely located vessels.

Mechanical teeth cleaning

The simplest method of professional dental hygiene. It is carried out using dental instruments, highly active pastes and brushes. This takes longer than other cleaning methods. There is a risk of damage to the enamel. Therefore, the mechanical method is used quite rarely.

Fluoridation of teeth

After professional cleaning, teeth are often fluoridated. It performs 4 functions:

• strengthens enamel;
• reduces tooth sensitivity;
• slows down the growth of bacteria;
• reduces the negative impact of an acidic environment.

To do this, the surface of the teeth is coated with fluoride varnish. To do this, use a special brush or mouth guard with gel.

Formation of soft and hard dental plaque

There are two types of dental deposits:

1. Soft (plaques, plaque).
2. Solid.

Plaques are formations that arise from food particles and waste products of microorganisms living in the oral cavity. Bacteria begin their activity immediately after a person eats food. Over time, the plaques merge with each other and form plaque - a thick mass of white-yellow color. It accumulates mainly in the interdental spaces and at the necks of the teeth. With insufficient oral hygiene, plaque spreads over the entire surface of the teeth.

If soft deposits are not removed, they mineralize - harden under the influence of lime salts. A new soft plaque “sticks” to the hard formations (it is easier for it to settle on a rough surface than on smooth enamel) and hardens. This is how tartar appears and grows. It appears first on those parts of the tooth that are located above the gum, and then, with inactivity, grows under it.

Reference! Mineralization of soft deposits begins within 15 hours of their occurrence. This is why it is so important to brush your teeth twice a day. If oral hygiene is neglected or not carried out carefully enough, a visually visible stone will form within 3–6 months. The rate of stone formation varies from person to person; for some, this process occurs faster, for others, slower.

Deposits and stones on teeth occur even with the most careful oral hygiene. The process is accelerated and aggravated by the following factors:

• Irregular brushing of teeth.
• Poor quality toothpaste.
• Wrongly chosen toothbrush: the bristles should be medium-hard, since soft bristles do not remove all plaque, while hard bristles can injure the gum tissue.
• Abuse of brightly colored drinks: tea, coffee, juices, red wine.
• Malocclusion.
• Smoking.
• Insufficient consumption of solid foods, which creates the necessary stress on the teeth.
• Excessive passion for simple carbohydrates, especially sweets.
• Metabolic disorders in the body, endocrine diseases.
• Increased salivation.
• Abuse of products containing chemical dyes.
• Gastrointestinal pathologies.
• The habit of chewing food on one side.
• Taking antibiotics and some other medications.

Reference! 60-70% of adults have tartar. You cannot eliminate it yourself. Tartar occurs not only on molars and baby teeth, but also on dentures.

Contraindications to the procedure

Like any medical procedure, professional dental hygiene has contraindications:

• age under 18 years;
• inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity;
• foci of caries;
• bronchial hyperreactivity (in patients with asthma, allergies, obstructive bronchitis);
• severe thinning of the enamel layer;
• bruxism;
• some mental pathologies;
• chronic diseases in the acute phase;
• infectious pathologies;
• a large number of filled teeth;
• epilepsy; open form of tuberculosis;
• wearing braces and metal crowns.

Most contraindications are relative. The patient can undergo the procedure after recovery.

The benefits and harms of stone removal

The benefits of professional teeth cleaning are as follows.

1. The enamel becomes smooth, it better absorbs the beneficial substances contained in therapeutic, prophylactic and medicinal toothpastes.
2. Pathogenic microbes that cause the development of dangerous diseases are eliminated.
3. The procedure is a prevention of gingivitis and periodontal disease, which are the cause of tooth decay.
4. Eliminates unpleasant odor from the mouth.
5. The natural whiteness of the enamel is restored.

There is rarely any harm from professional teeth cleaning. Sometimes the procedure can damage the gums. This happens with increased sensitivity.

Cleaning teeth from plaque in dentistry is an indispensable procedure for maintaining oral health.
It should be done regularly to prevent the development of caries, periodontal disease, gingivitis and their complications. After weighing the pros and cons of professional teeth cleaning, you should visit your dentist regularly. The doctor's consultation

Types

Some patients, out of ignorance, do not distinguish between teeth cleaning and teeth whitening - these are different events, each aimed at its own result. Several types of cleaning have been developed in dentistry, the most popular:

• ultrasonic scaler;
• laser machine;
• "air flow";
• hygienic (manual).

Each of these types of cleansing has pros and cons. The methods are designed to get rid of problems (according to severity level).

• Ultrasonic cleaning optimizes the condition of the gums and stops bleeding. The scaler has several contraindications.
• Laser cleaning kills microorganisms and has a healing property – it heals mouth ulcers.
• “Air flow” cleaning is performed using an air stream with an abrasive. There are contraindications.
• Hygienic cleaning is a method of removing plaque using specialized dental brushes and hooks - this is a gentle method of removing tartar. Today, hygiene procedures at the dentist are used less frequently than others.

Only a dentist can choose the right way to clean enamel. When choosing, he takes into account the method suitable for a particular patient, age, and dental condition.