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Hygienic Treatments

Many people do not understand that the removal of calculus and hygiene sessions in general are one of the basic staples of good oral health care. Calculus is not just an aesthetic problem, but is actually dangerous, as bacteria like to live in it, and this can lead to periodontitis, bleeding gums, and the eventual death of the periodontium, which can lead to otherwise healthy teeth falling out or becoming compromised. Calculus also plays a role in halitosis as well. 

Calculus is the calcified form of plaque; it basically forms when plaque is left for long enough to turn into something similar to stone. It forms in places that are hard to reach with at home oral care methods, such as between teeth, and the areas close to the gums that are covered more or less by the teeth. These areas are more or less devoid of both oxygen and of saliva, and the bacteria that live there eat of the plaque that gets trapped in these hard to reach areas. Minerals get deposited into what is basically an organic web, and seeing as saliva and oxygen do not corrode this web, calculus is formed. Once this does form, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush alone.      

Prevention

Rigorous at home oral health care is a good start, and for many is completely enough to prevent calculus from forming. But certain people are more likely to develop this condition, due to the lines and grooves on the enamel of the teeth. These people should seek the help of a dental hygienist in order to remove their calculus. This should be done on a regular basis, and for some people, that means going 3 or even 4 times a year. Smokers, and people who like to drink cola, coffee and tea are also at greater risk for developing calculus.

Floss as well as interdental toothbrushes are the main at home weapons against the formation of calculus, but technique is also very important, as is nutrition. Eat healthy, and make sure to use plenty of floss, especially if you are at higher risk for developing calculus. Using an irrigator can also be useful, if you have one.

How To Remove Calculus

There is no safe at home methods for removing calculus, it can only be done at a hygiene session provided by a dentist or an oral hygienist. Our Hungarian dentistry in London uses an ultrasound generating machine that vibrates and breaks up the plaque, but not your teeth. First we spray lidocaine on your gums to numb them so that you will not feel pain even if your teeth are sensitive. The machine then vibrates and shakes the unwanted material right off your teeth. The portions of calculus that lie beneath the gum line are removed using a hand scaler. After this is done, we will polish your teeth to make sure they are smooth and the bacteria have a harder time sticking to their surface.

After the treatment, your teeth may be sensitive to heat and cold, to sweet or sour foods, but this can be alleviated with the use of toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. You should also use mouthwash,as this will help with quick recovery.

Airflow hygiene sessions and tooth whitening

This special kind of tooth whitening session has the advantage of being the most gentle method of tooth whitening, but is also highly effective at removing stains and plaque from the tooth surfaces. The Airflow device uses a high powered stream of sodium bicarbonate, water and air to remove stains from the affected teeth.  

Treatment Process

The powdered sodium bicarbonate removes stains from the tooth surfaces, while the water washes them off of the affected areas. The result is a brilliant white smile that has a natural shine to it. The treatment does not damage the tooth enamel and after the polishing that is part of this treatment, plaque will not be able to stick to your enamel.
We highly recommend this treatment to anyone who smokes, drinks coffee or tea, or to anyone who has a tendency to accumulate tartar, or have gingivitis or periodontitis. Tartar removal with Airflow technology is a part of periodontitis treatment.  

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