Professional teeth cleaning

Professional cleaning of teeth ensures their impeccable condition and good health. This is not the last indicator of the image of a person in modern life, influencing the relationship of people in society.

Well-performed hygienic procedures for the care of the oral cavity at home are still not able to be completely responsible for the ideal condition of the teeth, gums and mucous membranes. In hard-to-reach places, soft deposits accumulate in the form of plaque, turning over time into a dangerous tartar. This phenomenon is accompanied by a yellow tint of enamel, a heavy smell from the mouth, on the basis of which caries and periodontal disease develop.

To have snow-white teeth, it is also not enough to use special pastes and folk remedies (baking soda, lemon juice), which, if used ineptly, can damage the enamel.

To maintain a healthy environment in the mouth, professional hygienic cleaning of the teeth is essential. It brightens the teeth, frees them from plaque and calculus, makes them smooth and strong. There are two ways to clean your teeth in the dental office: hardware and manual (mechanical).

How much does professional teeth cleaning cost ? It depends on the technique used. Ultrasonic cleaning costs patients 1000-1500 rubles, the Air Flow procedure - 1500-3000, the use of laser technology (in the case when the contact of the device with the teeth is problematic) - an average of 10,000.

Hardware methods

Three techniques are performed on the devices:

1. Air Flow (the action is based on the direction of the air flow with cleaning abrasive particles of baking soda, accompanied by a jet of water);
2. ultrasonic (effective, relatively short procedure with a delicate safe effect);
3. laser (non-contact destruction of deposits by evaporation of liquid from them).

In dental practice, complex dental health is most often used, which includes Air Flow and an ultrasonic method, which in combination give an excellent result.

Air flow method

In this way (an additional name is sandblasting), soft plaque is cleaned and teeth are polished with a powerful stream of air with an abrasive (sodium bicarbonate, that is, soda) and a stream of chilled water, which washes away the cleaned plaque and neutralizes the heating of the teeth that occurs during the procedure. Adjusting the water flow depends on the amount of work, taking into account the thickness of the enamel and the sensitivity of the teeth. The technique can be applied to all types of prostheses.

Inconspicuous plaque under the gums is removed with a delicate powder based on glycine instead of baking soda. This type of Air Flow is called Perio-Flow.

The benefits are safety and efficiency. The method is contraindicated in cases:

• thin layer of enamel;
• advanced caries and periodontal disease;
• bronchitis, asthma;
• an allergic reaction to the substances used, including fragrances.

Ultrasonic method

It is the oldest proven method. With the help of ultrasonic waves tuned to a certain frequency and amplitude of oscillations, the tartar crumbles and is separated from the enamel with a special scaler without damaging it.

It is convenient to find tartar under the gums with a scaler and remove it. At the same time, plaque, areas of dark pigmentation are removed. To prevent vibration from heating the teeth, along with ultrasound, a jet of chilled water or a solution with refreshing fragrances based on mint, lemon, menthol is fed into the oral cavity.

In addition to the wellness purpose, the procedure is necessary before dental treatment, as it increases the effect of the therapeutic effect. Ultrasonic devices can be an independent design or an additional fragment to another device. The method not only cleans the teeth, but also heals the gums from bleeding.

In addition to these advantages, the technique is considered the only one for cleaning the teeth of lovers of cigarettes and strong coffee.

Dentists warn about the contraindications of the method, which include:

• weak enamel and severe caries;
• purulent formations on the gums and mucous membranes;
• heart problems;
• the presence of a pacemaker;
• diseases of internal organs (lungs, kidneys, liver);
• asthma, bronchitis;
• removable and implanted orthopedic constructions;
• hepatitis, colds.

Laser technologies 

The use of laser technology is considered the most modern way of professional teeth cleaning. The action is carried out without contact with the dentition and is completely silent, based on the evaporation of a liquid, the content of which in tartar and plaque is much greater than in the teeth themselves. When cleaning with a laser method, the teeth become noticeably lighter.

Targeting the concentration of liquid in the deposits, the laser completely evaporates it, which is why the layer-by-layer destruction of hardened deposits and the destruction of bacteria from the oral cavity occurs.

If plaque and tartar have a thin layer, the laser beam takes this into account and does not affect the enamel.

In addition to these advantages, the method quickly cleans enamel of any degree of contamination, is not felt, is safe, and highly aesthetic. The list of contraindications includes:

• the presence of foreign bodies in the body (for example, pacemakers, fixed dentures, braces);
• colds and chronic diseases of an otolaryngic nature;
• tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis;
• epilepsy, asthma;
• minor age;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• cardiac pathology.

Manual way

Manual (mechanical) work is the final method of comprehensively bringing teeth cleaning to perfection using strips (strips) of different roughness, sharp instruments (curettes) and polishing brushes with pastes.

Stone and plaque are removed mechanically in difficult places, the surface of the enamel is polished, the gaps between the teeth are processed, pigmentation from food containing dyes is eliminated, the development of pathology in the tissues surrounding the teeth is suppressed.

Procedure execution process

How is professional teeth cleaning done? Depending on the condition and characteristics of the dentition, the dentist chooses an algorithm of actions. This can be an independent method (laser) in agreement with the patient or, most often, complex therapy (Air flow in combination with ultrasound).

Comprehensive teeth cleaning lasts no more than an hour and consists of several mandatory steps:

1. removal of tartar (including under the gum) by ultrasonic method;
2. cleaning soft deposits with the Air flow device;
3. manual polishing;
4. enamel fluoridation for strengthening;
5. fissure sealing if necessary.

First stage:  removal of hard deposits

If tartar is present, it is removed mainly by ultrasound. The scaler with microvibrations gently removes the stone, the pressure of water cools the teeth and gums, neutralizes pain, and washes away stone fragments. For sensitive teeth, as well as for removing dirt under the gums, local anesthesia is used.

Second step: removing soft plaque

After hard deposits, it is required to remove soft plaque and initially polish the teeth with Air Flow. The sandblasting device perfectly copes with its work, directing the air-abrasive stream to the problem areas of the dentition. As a result, the enamel acquires smoothness and natural whiteness.

Third stage: polishing work

Additional polishing of the teeth is necessary to protect against plaque, which has nothing to cling to on smooth enamel and therefore it is difficult to accumulate layers of tartar. The stage is carried out manually with a special paste with abrasive particles, while each depression is processed. Between the teeth, an ideal surface is achieved with polishing strips, which were described above.

Fourth phase: firming fluoridation

This step protects the enamel from microorganisms and hypersensitivity. There are two ways of conventional (simple) fluoridation: applying molds with a solution to the teeth or coating the enamel with fluoride varnish.

Deep fluoridation is ten times more effective than ordinary fluoridation. The enamel sealant is applied to the teeth, then a layer of calcium copper hydroxide is applied.

Final but optional step: fissure sealing

If the fissures (depressions on the chewing surface of the molars) are naturally deep, then the doctor may recommend sealing them with filling material to prevent caries.

What problems are being solved

A cleansing hygiene procedure in a dental clinic allows you to:

• comfortable removal of tartar and soft plaque on each tooth, including on the surface covered by gums;
• prevent diseases of the teeth and tissues of the oral cavity;
• strengthen the gums, relieve them of bleeding;
• eliminate pathological odor from the mouth;
• give teeth a lighter tone;
• accurately select the shade of the filling before treatment;
• maintain the health of the teeth and the immunity of the body as a whole.

Beneficial and pain-free dental cleaning is positively perceived by patients, as evidenced by their feedback. One of the clients decided to go for laser hygiene a few years ago and did not regret it. Since then, she does not know what a toothache and gum problems are.

An active smoker and lover of strong coffee was embarrassed by his darkened teeth. Was very pleased with their appearance after cleansing. Now he feels great psychological relief: his teeth look great.

Indications

There are a number of signs that suggest the need for an urgent visit to a professional teeth cleaning:

1. an abundance of accumulated plaque and tartar;
2. persistent heavy odor from the mouth, if there are no gastrointestinal diseases;
3. bleeding gums;
4. feeling of pain in the teeth and gums;
5. discoloration and soreness of the periodontal tissues.

Contraindications

In addition to the restrictions for each type of professional cleaning, there are general serious contraindications, which include all forms of diabetes and prior organ transplantation.

Expert advice

After brushing your teeth by a professional, special care is required for them, as there may be temporary sensitivity of the enamel or bleeding of the gums, which should not be a cause for concern.

Just in case, the doctor will recommend, if necessary, applying the antimicrobial gel Metrogyl Denta to the gums twice a day for a week or rinsing with a solution of chlorhexine. It is impossible to use alcohol-containing rinses during this period, as they cause dryness and irritation of the mucous membrane, and some types stain the enamel.

To create gentle conditions for the teeth after cleansing due to temporary increased sensitivity, dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush for the first week. If the patient uses an irrigator, then you need to set it to the lowest power. You should not expose your teeth during this period to such stresses as smoking, juices, soda, sour fruits and citrus fruits.

There are several types of teeth cleaning in the clinic, but only a dentist can choose a specific complex for each individual case. Methods will help dental health only if a person observes constant oral hygiene.