Your teeth need a dentist once in a while

Most of us do not know how to brush our teeth well. It is therefore easy to develop diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, advanced gum disease.

Should this happen, advises Dr Johnson Wambugu, a dentist, professional dental cleaning is necessary, since normal tooth brushing cannot remove the stains and tartar that have built-up on your teeth over time.

Plaque provides a favourable environment for bacteria to grow along the gums, something that can cause gum disease.

Professional cleaning makes use of specialised devices that edges out the deposits on the teeth without injuring the gums. It goes through three phases; scaling, tooth polishing and root debridement.

 TOOTH SCALING

This is the mechanical process of removing dental plaque. A dentist uses an ultrasonic device that produces vibrations that dislodge larger pieces of tartar.

While working, it also sprays water in form of cooling vapor that washes debris away. This device has rounded and curved tips that are constantly moving around the teeth.

Removing larger plaques that have hardened over time can take longer. A topical numbing gel may be applied to prevent pain or sensitivity during the cleaning process. Scaling may be done in phases for those who have gum problems due to sensitivity.

Once larger pieces of tartar have been removed, your dentist may use a  hand scaler to scrap off tiny deposits of tartar along the curves of the teeth.

TOOTH POLISHING AND PROPHYLAXIS

Polishing is the smoothening of the teeth surface to prevent accumulation of plaque. It is done with a slow speed hand piece that contains a rotating rubber cup. A prophylaxis paste is then spun on the surface of the teeth to give them a shiny smooth appearance.

A dentist may also apply fluoride on the surfaces of teeth to help strengthen them because they may have been weakened by plaque and acids produced by the bacteria. However, this fluoride should not be swallowed.

ROOT DEBRIDEMENT AND PLANING

This is a procedure that removes tartar hidden below the gum line, using an ultrasonic device. It is suitable for those with heavy tartar that has built up for many years.

Root debridement is normally followed by root planing, which involves cleaning to get rid of plaque on the surface of the root in the periodontal pocket.

This helps remove bacteria that can cause gum disease.

For most people, professional cleaning is painless, however, let the dentist know if you experience any discomfort during the process. Pain during cleaning could be due to inflamed gums, exposed dentine, or an inexperienced dentist.

Having annual dental checkups is important, because it will help to identify dental problems early enough. How often one should have professional cleaning depends on whether there is a problem or not.

Those with diseases such as periodontitis and gum disease, and those who have restorations like bridges, braces, and dentures, need to have their teeth checked more frequently.

Just like most medical procedures, professional cleaning can cause certain complications.

For instance, if not correctly done, it can damage the teeth and gums. Teeth sensitivity may also be felt after cleaning, but this usually goes away after some time.