How Do Dentists Get Rid Of Tartar

How Do Dentists Get Rid Of Tartar? The Essential Guide to Professional Cleaning

If you've ever felt a rough patch on your teeth, even after brushing diligently, chances are you've encountered tartar. Tartar, also known as calculus, is the hardened version of dental plaque. It's unsightly, harmful to your gums, and unfortunately, you cannot remove it effectively with just a toothbrush.

So, what's the solution? You need professional intervention. Many patients frequently ask: How Do Dentists Get Rid Of Tartar effectively and safely? This guide breaks down the methods, the tools, and why regular dental visits are your best defense against this persistent dental nemesis.

Understanding Tartar: Why It Needs Professional Attention

Before we discuss removal, let's briefly clarify what tartar is. When bacteria, food particles, and saliva mix, they form a sticky, colorless film called plaque. If plaque isn't removed within 24 to 72 hours, minerals in your saliva cause it to harden into calculus—tartar.

Unlike soft plaque, tartar bonds strongly to the tooth enamel and sits along the gum line. Because of its rough surface, it acts like a magnet, attracting even more plaque, creating a vicious cycle. This is why attempting to scrape it off yourself is ineffective and potentially damaging to your enamel.

The main danger of tartar is its location. When it sits near the gums, it irritates the soft tissue, leading to gingivitis (early gum disease). If left untreated, this can progress to periodontitis, which involves bone loss and, eventually, tooth loss.

The Essential Dental Cleaning Process: Scaling and Root Planing

When you visit the dentist or dental hygienist for a check-up, the primary procedure used to remove calculus is called scaling. Scaling is the method that truly answers the question of how do dentists get rid of tartar effectively.

For patients with significant buildup or signs of early gum disease, the dentist may recommend scaling and root planing (often referred to as a "deep cleaning"). This targets buildup both above and below the gum line.

Step 1: Visual and Tactile Examination

Your cleaning session always begins with a thorough assessment. The hygienist uses a small mirror to check your teeth and gums for visual signs of disease or heavy calculus deposits. They also use a specialized probe to gently measure the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth.

Deeper pockets often indicate inflammation and advanced tartar accumulation beneath the gum line, requiring more careful attention during the scaling phase.

Step 2: Breaking Down the Buildup (Scaling)

This is the main event where the hardened deposits are physically separated from your tooth surfaces. Dentists employ two primary types of tools for this task:

Manual Scaling: The Traditional Hand Tools

Traditional scaling relies on thin, curved metal instruments called dental scalers and curettes. These specialized tools are essential for reaching difficult areas, particularly below the gum line and between teeth.

The hygienist carefully slides the scaler below the gum line and uses precise, controlled movements to chip away and lift the tartar deposits. While this sounds intense, it is generally painless for routine cleanings.

The benefits of manual tools include:

• Excellent tactile feedback, allowing the hygienist to feel minute deposits.
• Precision cleaning, especially in deep or narrow pockets.
• Effectiveness for removing hard, stubborn pieces of calculus.

Ultrasonic Scaling: High-Tech Tartar Removal

For patients with significant buildup, dentists often start the scaling process using an ultrasonic scaler. This device utilizes rapid, high-frequency vibrations to break down large pieces of tartar quickly and efficiently.

As the tip vibrates, it simultaneously sprays a gentle stream of water. This water jet serves two purposes: it cools the device and flushes the dislodged tartar and bacteria from the pocket. Many patients find this method less irritating than manual scraping.

Often, the hygienist will use the ultrasonic scaler to remove the bulk of the calculus, and then follow up with manual instruments for fine-tuning and smoothing.

Step 3: Smoothing Things Out (Polishing and Fluoride)

Once all the hardened calculus has been removed, the dental team moves on to polishing. This involves using a small, motorized brush head and abrasive paste—it feels very similar to an electric toothbrush, but the paste is much grittier.

Polishing removes any residual soft plaque and stains from coffee or wine, leaving your teeth sparkling smooth. Importantly, smoothing the surface prevents new plaque from immediately adhering to rough spots.

Finally, a fluoride treatment is applied. Fluoride strengthens the enamel, helping your teeth resist future acid attacks and plaque accumulation. This completes the typical professional cleaning session.

Advanced Techniques for Deep Pockets and Severe Cases

In cases of advanced periodontal disease where tartar has built up deep below the gum line, simply removing the calculus might not be enough. The dentist or periodontist might use additional specialized treatments.

1. Root Planing: This step follows scaling during a deep cleaning. It involves smoothing the root surfaces of the teeth. Rough root surfaces hold bacteria and calculus easily, so planing them down helps prevent future buildup and allows the gum tissue to reattach properly.
2. Antibiotics: Sometimes, the dentist places antibiotic medications directly into the cleaned gum pockets after scaling and planing to help fight off remaining bacteria and encourage healing.
3. Laser Dentistry: Some modern practices utilize dental lasers to assist in deep cleaning. Lasers can gently remove inflamed tissue and help sterilize the deep pockets, though their use varies widely by practice.

These advanced measures are crucial for halting the progression of periodontitis and saving the underlying bone structure.

Maintaining a Tartar-Free Smile: Prevention Tips

The best way to deal with tartar is to prevent it from forming in the first place! Since calculus can only be removed professionally, your daily routine must focus on removing soft plaque before it hardens.

Follow these essential steps:

• Brush Twice Daily: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. Ensure you spend two full minutes covering all surfaces of your teeth.
• Floss Daily: Flossing is non-negotiable. Plaque loves to hide between teeth where your brush can't reach. Floss once a day to remove these crucial deposits.
• Use Tartar Control Toothpaste: Look for toothpaste specifically formulated to slow down the mineralization of plaque, often containing pyrophosphates or zinc citrate.
• Rinse with Mouthwash: Therapeutic mouthwashes can help kill bacteria and reduce plaque buildup, offering an extra layer of defense.
• Schedule Regular Cleanings: No matter how perfectly you brush and floss, microscopic spots of plaque will eventually harden. Sticking to a schedule of cleanings every six months is the only guaranteed way to answer the question, How Do Dentists Get Rid Of Tartar long-term, by ensuring it never gets severe.

Conclusion

Understanding how do dentists get rid of tartar demystifies the process of professional dental cleaning. Dentists and hygienists use a combination of precision tools—from traditional manual scalers to high-tech ultrasonic devices—to physically break down and remove hardened calculus both above and below the gum line.

While the procedures of scaling and, if necessary, root planing are highly effective, the crucial takeaway is that prevention through excellent home care and consistent professional maintenance is key. Don't wait until buildup is severe; regular check-ups ensure your smile remains healthy, smooth, and tartar-free.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Tartar Removal

Can I remove tartar myself at home?

No. Once plaque has hardened into tartar (calculus), it is chemically bonded to the tooth enamel. Attempting to scrape it off with non-dental tools can severely damage your enamel and irritate your gums. Only professional dental instruments are designed to safely remove tartar.

Does getting tartar removed hurt?

For routine cleanings with minimal buildup, the process is generally painless, though you may feel pressure or scraping sensations. If you have significant buildup or signs of gum disease (requiring deep cleaning or root planing), the dentist may use local anesthesia to numb the area, ensuring comfort during the procedure.

How often should I go to the dentist for tartar removal?

Most patients benefit from routine cleanings every six months. However, if you have a history of periodontitis or tend to accumulate tartar quickly, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits, such as every three or four months.

What is the difference between scaling and root planing?

Scaling involves removing tartar and plaque from the surface of the tooth, both above and below the gum line. Root planing is an additional step performed during deep cleaning where the dental professional smooths the tooth roots to prevent bacteria from reattaching in the gum pockets.

How Do Dentists Get Rid Of Tartar

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