Ultrasound removal of tartar in humans, contraindications for ultrasonic removal

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning is one of the safest and most gentle methods of deep teeth cleaning. Even if you systematically and carefully take care of your oral health, over time, plaque, pigmentation and very hard tartar will still form on your teeth, the removal of which is impossible without dental care.

The activity of bacteria causes the appearance of an acidic environment in places where microorganisms accumulate, which leads to bad breath, the formation of caries, bleeding and inflammatory processes of the gums and the active growth of stones that can penetrate into the space under the gums. As a result, the ligamentous apparatus of the tooth is destroyed and periodontal pockets are formed, the teeth become loose and begin to fall out. In addition, the formation of tartar and the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity can cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and respiratory system. To prevent and treat these problems, professional cleaning methods are used using special devices that do not damage tooth enamel and do not take much time.

What is tartar and what are the causes of its appearance?

Tartar is hardened plaque that forms on the visible part of the tooth (crown) and under the gum.

The reasons for its appearance are natural, but the consequences can cause pathologies in the oral cavity.

Initially, food particles stick to the enamel. Bacteria begin to actively multiply in them. A dental plaque is formed, which looks like a soft, light plaque. Plaque can be easily removed by regular tooth brushing. But if this does not happen, then food debris, dead cells of the mucous membrane, calcium and phosphorus salts from saliva are layered on the soft plaque. They crystallize and harden.

Mineralization occurs on average within 12 days. Soft plaque turns into hard plaque. Tartar has a rough surface, onto which more and more elements “cling.”

Attention: A bacterial film on teeth forms within 16 hours. Therefore, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day.

Photo of plaque, male jaw

Why hard deposits form

Plaque formation is inevitable, but there are a number of factors that accelerate the process:

Irregular hygiene. Particularly active formation of plaque and stone occurs at night: salivation decreases, a person swallows less often, and does not move the tongue. This creates a favorable environment for bacterial growth.
Poor hygiene. Brushing teeth with horizontal movements does not affect hard-to-reach areas. The interdental spaces should be cleaned by moving the brush vertically.
Diet. A large amount of sweet and starchy foods leads to the sticking of carbohydrates to the enamel and the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. To reduce the rate of plaque formation, you should eat fresh, firm vegetables and fruits. Chewing the fibrous pulp for a long time partially helps remove plaque.
Physiological features. Incorrect bite and crowded teeth make proper cleaning difficult.
Metabolic disorders. The composition of saliva changes, its bactericidal properties decrease.
Smoking. Cigarette tar settles on the teeth, causing the formation of films and plaques.

Comprehensive hygienic cleaning

For more effective cleaning of the dental surface, we recommend that our patients undergo comprehensive oral cleaning, which includes:

Ultrasonic cleaning of teeth from tartar;
Air Flow cleaning – removal of micro-roughness remaining on the enamel surface after removing tartar. Cleaning is carried out with a special abrasive mixture, which is supplied under high pressure. Also, with the help of Air Flow, pigment spots and “smoker’s plaque” are removed, the tooth surface becomes much lighter;
Polishing the enamel surface with paste;
Deep fluoridation of tooth enamel (if necessary).

If the patient, after comprehensive hygienic cleaning of the oral cavity, follows the rules for caring for the oral cavity, then he reduces the likelihood of re-formation of tartar, because prevents the hardening of soft dental deposits that inevitably accumulate on the surface of the teeth. Therefore, during the next preventive examination, teeth cleaning may be limited to using the Air Flow method to remove stained plaque.

For periodontal pockets deeper than 5 mm, it is recommended to undergo a procedure for removing hard deposits using a vector device.

Why is ultrasonic cleaning necessary?

Professional teeth cleaning in a clinic identifies problem areas and helps avoid future diseases.

Detects caries. The destruction of enamel and dentin can be hidden under a layer of tartar. If caries is discovered later, it should be cured.
Prevents the formation of new caries, including those who wear braces.
Prevents gum inflammation, periodontitis, exposed roots, bleeding, and bad breath.
Prepares the oral cavity for surgery and implant installation. Removing colonies of bacteria living in dental plaque ensures the safety of manipulations that violate the integrity of tissues.
Brightens teeth without aggressive chemical whitening.

Photos BEFORE and AFTER cleaning

Description of the method

Tartar is nothing more than a hard plaque formed from food debris, dead cells, bacteria and salts, which give it a dark tint, which has a very bad effect on the appearance of the teeth. It is impossible to remove it mechanically due to its density and very strong adherence to the teeth. Chemical cleaning methods are also not always acceptable, since there is a risk of destruction of tooth enamel. The ultrasonic method allows you to remove tartar completely safely, completely cleaning your teeth, including periodontal pockets, and restoring their natural color.

For professional teeth cleaning in a clinic, a special device is used - a scaler that creates ultrasonic waves. In this case, the frequency of their oscillations can be adjusted. The targeted delivery of ultrasonic pulses has a mechanical effect on the stones and destroys them.

Is ultrasonic teeth cleaning harmful?

Ultrasonic cleaning does not pose any threat to teeth and the body as a whole. An exception is situations in which the technology is broken or the patient has contraindications. Ultrasound can damage enamel if it is thinned or has such a structural feature. Sometimes brushing causes bleeding from the gums. The doctor will help stop it and advise what needs to be done for speedy healing.

Advice: to avoid possible troubles, before starting the procedure, the dentist finds out the state of health, concomitant diseases, and reaction to medications. Answer honestly and directly, every nuance matters.

Flaws

Despite these advantages, the procedure has disadvantages:

when working with the device, it is possible to injure the soft tissues of the oral cavity, so the procedure should only be performed by a highly qualified specialist;
in some cases it is impossible to remove the stone from all sides;
For sensitive teeth, local anesthesia will be required.

In addition, ultrasonic teeth cleaning has a number of contraindications.

Note. Sometimes dental clinics use scalers, which, when rotated, can damage tooth enamel. Before you sign up for a procedure, check with the administrator what model of device the dentist will use. If the device is outdated, it is better not to take risks and abandon the procedure.

Pros and cons of ultrasonic tartar removal

Unlike other methods, ultrasonic cleaning has a number of advantages:

Removes subgingival calculus that is difficult to reach with traditional instruments. To clean the root zone, the doctor pulls back the gums and works with the neck and root of the tooth.
Cleans the interdental spaces even of very dense teeth, uneven, overlapping one another.
The procedure does not last long - 40-60 minutes.
Painless. The patient does not feel any impact.
Non-contact influence. Only air and water come into contact with teeth. With the outdated mechanical method, the instruments scratch the enamel and cause an unpleasant “grinding” sensation.

Advantages

Cleansing efficiency.
The ultrasonic system removes tartar with the greatest possible effect without consequences for dental health. In addition, unlike other cleansing methods, ultrasound easily breaks down hard deposits even under the gum. No risk to enamel. Hard stone is difficult to remove mechanically, and it is almost impossible to remove plaque with chemicals without affecting the enamel. Ultrasonic cleaning has no such disadvantages. The system is designed in such a way that it does not directly affect the tooth surface, which significantly reduces the risk of damage.

Whitening effect. After cleaning, many patients who were planning to schedule an appointment for whitening abandon this idea because the teeth become several shades lighter. However, the color of the enamel remains natural, since special bleaching is not performed during the procedure.

Fast and painless. The procedure is painless, does not require special preparation and does not take much time. If the patient has a lot of deposits in the gum line area, the dentist will suggest using topical or local anesthesia with the minimum possible dosage of anesthetic.

Prevention of diseases. As a rule, deposits on teeth can provoke many dental diseases, such as caries, gingivitis or periodontitis. After removing hard deposits and soft plaque, the dentist will be able to correctly assess the condition of the tooth enamel, notice their pathological changes in time and, if necessary, carry out urgent treatment. In addition, ultrasound kills bacteria by delivering an antiseptic solution and the bactericidal effect of cavitation.

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Main stages of ultrasonic processing

The dentist conducts an examination, identifies places where tartar accumulates, the amount, and determines its density in order to choose the appropriate cleaning regimen. Sometimes teeth are treated with a special solution that reveals the boundaries of plaque. If the patient has sensitive teeth, gums or deep subgingival calculus, anesthesia (injection or application) is performed.

Stone removal is carried out in three stages:

Brushing teeth with a skyler

Skyler is a dental instrument that generates ultrasonic air vibrations. Water (an antiseptic solution) mixed with air is sprayed through a narrow nozzle. The liquid is intended to cool the tooth and wash away the separated plaque.

The ultrasonic wave forms cavities in mineralized deposits, the plaque cracks and peels off from the enamel. The fragments are removed with a saliva ejector.

First, the doctor cleans the crowns, then the subgingival area, guiding the scaler with parallel vertical movements.

Brushing teeth with a skyler

Polishing

Cleaned teeth have a rough surface. To slow down the adhesion of food and bacteria, polishing is used.

Main types:

Mechanical with special paste and a round elastic brush. The interdental spaces are polished with thin strips or narrow spiral-shaped brushes.
Hardware using the AirFlow method - using a powerful jet of water with an abrasive containing sodium bicarbonate.

Brushing your teeth with a special paste and a round brush

Fluoridation

Fluoridation helps strengthen enamel and reduce hyperesthesia (sensitivity) in the cervical area.

The tooth surface is dried with a stream of warm air for better adhesion.
Apply a composition containing fluoride ions (gel or varnish) and dry again.
The teeth are treated with a swab soaked in copper hydroxide and calcium solution. The substances enter into a chemical reaction, and calcium fluoride crystals are formed in the dentinal tubules and other irregularities, which strengthen the tooth tissue and prevent infection.

Indications for use

Almost every adult needs ultrasonic teeth cleaning to prevent the formation of dental plaque, but there are categories that are recommended to perform the procedure first:

Patients preparing for caries treatment and teeth whitening, installation of implants, braces, dentures;
Patients after removal of braces;
Patients with installed implants, crowns (special plastic attachments are used for cleaning);
Patients diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis.

Contraindications

The most important contraindication is the presence of a pacemaker in the patient. Ultrasonic waves can disrupt its operation.

Other restrictions also apply to health conditions:

asthma, bronchospasm, tuberculosis,
increased risk of bleeding,
allergies to the drugs used,
infectious and viral diseases,
oncology,
mental illness, epilepsy.

Attention: Relative contraindications are pregnancy (first trimester), childhood (up to 16-18 years). The decision to perform the procedure is made by the dentist.

In what cases should you use this type of cleaning?

The presence of tartar and complex plaque on the teeth is a contraindication for prosthetics. Therefore, before serious treatment, the dentist will definitely recommend undergoing an ultrasonic cleaning procedure. This helps prevent complications and speeds up the treatment of periodontal disease and caries. Cleaning the tooth cavity improves the quality of the filling procedure. Using ultrasonic cleaning, you can rinse periodontal pockets and clean the canals before treatment. This procedure reduces the risk of infection after tooth extraction.

Most patients learned about the effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning in such cases. But those who care about oral health do it regularly. In many cases, ultrasonic cleaning is carried out in conjunction with other procedures, such as teeth whitening and polishing, fluoridation and protective film coating. Often after this, the dentist prescribes special treatment to relieve gum inflammation.

When it might be painful or unpleasant

Ultrasonic cleaning is a modern, effective method with minimal trauma. Most patients tolerate the process without discomfort.

Pain when cleaning with ultrasound

Pain can occur due to individual characteristics or due to erroneous actions of the doctor.

Features include thin, sensitive enamel - a semblance of shocks and pressure is felt. Weakened gums that are prone to bleeding are easily subject to microdamage and painful sensations appear. If there is extensive subgingival calculus, the doctor works in this area for a long time, which can also lead to discomfort.

Is there any discomfort during laser cleaning?

This method does not cause pain. The laser beam destroys pigments and evaporates water in hard and soft deposits. Their remains are washed off from the surface with water. In this case, there is no effect on the enamel. Gum pockets are not treated with laser; therefore, there is no contact with soft tissues.

Features of chemical tartar removal

The method is rarely used, because has few advantages, including speed and affordable price. Chemical removal has more disadvantages: thinning of the enamel, possible burns of the mucous membrane if performed incorrectly, poor cleaning of the interdental space, allergies to the products used, oxidation of orthodontic metal structures.

Sequencing:

installation of protective plates on the gums,
applying acidic and alkaline compounds for 2-3 minutes,
rinsing, polishing, fluoridation.

Chemical removal of tartar

How painful is it to remove stone manually?

This contact method can only be painful if the doctor's hand accidentally slips and the instrument scratches the gum. Also, the disadvantages include incomplete removal of plaque and stone in hard-to-reach places. Mechanical cleaning is contraindicated for thin, sensitive enamel, inflammation of the gums, and infectious lesions of the mucous membrane.

Nowadays, dentists recommend removing tartar manually less and less often.

Methodology

Assuming that the medical history has been collected and the patient has been given all the necessary explanations, ultrasonic teeth cleaning is carried out in the following sequence:

The patient sits in a chair, the doctor examines the oral cavity and determines the amount of work to be done. In case of increased tooth sensitivity, local anesthesia is performed, but usually the procedure is carried out without additional anesthesia;
Read also: Fractures of the lower and upper jaw: classification, signs, symptoms and treatment
The doctor installs a mouth opener - a special device that helps the patient hold his mouth open for a long time (the cleaning procedure lasts about 30 minutes on average). Thanks to the mouth retractor, the dentist gets full and unobstructed access to the surface of the teeth;
Dental plaque is removed with an ultrasonic scaler. The water that is supplied to the tooth surface during operation of the device, along with particles of tartar and saliva, is removed from the oral cavity using a saliva ejector. First, the visible part of the crowns is cleaned of soft deposits, then tartar along the gum border is removed, and finally, periodontal pockets are curetted;
Upon completion of the plaque removal procedure, the doctor polishes the surface of the teeth with a special polishing paste, this makes the enamel smooth and prevents plaque from re-attaching;
The next stage (performed if necessary) is the treatment of teeth with a fluoride-containing gel, which strengthens the enamel and restores its structure. The composition is also able to protect the enamel from external influences and reduce tooth sensitivity;
If there is inflammation on the gums, they are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. The patient continues to care for his gums at home using products recommended by the dentist: this can be rinsing or treating the gums with gels and solutions purchased at the pharmacy.

Features of care after the procedure

It is recommended to refrain from eating for two hours after the procedure to allow the fluoride coating to fully set. In the first 24 hours after professional teeth cleaning with ultrasound is carried out on the Seligerskaya metro station or Korovinskoe highway, you need to rinse your mouth with water after every meal.

If the mucous membrane is injured during the procedure, it is necessary to use antiseptics to treat the oral cavity, which are recommended by the doctor.

You should brush your teeth with a soft brush to reduce the impact on your gums. The paste must contain fluoride to saturate the enamel with microelements.

In the first 3-4 days, it is recommended to avoid foods that contain coloring pigments: coffee, black tea, red wine, brightly colored vegetables and fruits. Eating apples, cucumbers, cabbage and other light and hard foods will provide active friction against the teeth and remove plaque.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning at an affordable price precedes almost any dental treatment, which can significantly improve the quality of the final result. Experienced dentists at the Latum Clinic will perform the necessary manipulations as carefully and efficiently as possible to prevent the development of diseases of the teeth and gums, and if they are identified, they will select the most effective way to eliminate them to preserve the health and attractiveness of your smile.

Myth No. 7: There is an unpleasant taste sensation during brushing.

Some patients actually feel an unpleasant salty taste. The sensations are associated with the use of the same soda-based Air-Flow sandblasting powder. But today there are other mixtures based on calcium carbonate and even special formulations with aromatic additives.

A Dentist's Take: Some brands offer a variety of pleasant-flavored brushing powders that turn your professional hygiene routine into a pleasant dental spa. Especially if it is carried out in combination with fruit or berry professional toothpastes and fluoridating gels.

Myth No. 3: Professional hygiene cannot whiten teeth

One of the most popular myths about professional cleaning is that it is useless and does not whiten teeth. Dentists say that after the first procedure, teeth become noticeably lighter, this helps to safely whiten the enamel.

Dentist's opinion: in fact, the natural color of the enamel remains unchanged after cleaning. But due to the removal of dark pigmented plaque, as well as a homogeneous tea and coffee plaque that completely covers the entire surface of the teeth, the natural brightness, shine and color of the teeth return. This creates the whitening effect.