Tartar buildup on teeth can cause a variety of dental health problems, from tooth decay to gum disease. But is tartar removal painful? The answer depends on several factors, including the extent of tartar buildup, the overall oral health of the patient, and the experience of the dentist. In this article, we'll discuss what tartar is, how it's removed, and what to expect during the procedure. Tartar, also known as calculus, is a hard deposit that forms on teeth when plaque isn't removed. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums.
If it's not removed with regular brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar. Tartar can only be removed by a professional dentist or dental hygienist using special tools. During the procedure, the dentist uses an ultrasonic device with a small nozzle to remove tartar from areas or spots that are difficult to reach. Anesthesia is used whenever the patient feels the need to do so. The anesthetic is applied to the gums with a topical anesthetic or a more effective local anesthetic. The process of removing tartar may or may not be painful and depends on several factors.
If you have sensitive teeth or diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis, removing tartar will be painful. Overall oral health plays an important role in determining the amount of pain you will experience during any dental procedure. In addition, the extent of tartar with buildup on your teeth is essential to determine the level of pain you may experience. The greater the buildup of tartar, the greater the pain and vice versa. Finally, the dentist's experience and the types of equipment used also determine the level of pain.
A dental cleaning is generally a painless procedure because it doesn't involve cutting or injecting. In some cases, the doctor may drill a tooth if there is a small cavity and place a filling or sealant. In such cases, there may be toothache for a day or two and also some tooth sensitivity. If there is tartar on the teeth, the dentist will rub it and remove it. In this case, there may be a little bleeding and the gums may swell for a few days. For tartar to reach along the gum line, you may need to scrape below the gum line, which can be incredibly painful. When your dentist does this, it's known as scaling and root planing, and not just removing tartar.
The root also smooths out, making it harder for bacteria to attach. This treatment can cause a lot of pain and bleeding, so the dentist often numbs the area before cleaning begins. You won't be able to numb your gums at home, so you'll feel every prick. This alone is painful, but if you already have sensitive gums due to gum disease, expect a lot of pain and blood. Even if your gums are healthy, irritation from improper cleaning of your teeth can lead to a recession of your gums because your gums become too irritated. They move away from the teeth, exposing more of the teeth, making them look longer and exposing the unprotected root. To prevent tartar buildup in the first place, you need to make sure you have a proper brushing and flossing routine.
At the dentist's office, the hygienist removes all the tartar, but if you do it at home, you might miss something. When using hand tools, the dentist will not be able to see the tartar, so he will use his sense of touch to locate the areas that have the most tartar buildup. Your dentist, on the other hand, will remove the stone using a small hook-shaped metal tool called a curette, or a more modern ultrasonic scraper. Tartar on teeth allows plaque to increase, leading to tooth decay and gum disease, and the vicious cycle of poor dental health continues. This tartar can irritate gum tissues, catalyze plaque buildup and in turn help cause gum disease and decay. To remove tartar at home, you'll need to buy a kit that has the same tools that dental professionals use to clean your teeth including sharp scrapers. Once an electronic scraper has removed larger pieces of tartar from teeth, your dentist will use manual scraping tools in a variety of shapes and sizes. If your dentist or hygienist notices tartar on your teeth they will perform a professional dental cleaning procedure called scale and polish more on that in a moment. Tartar buildup decreases oral hygiene and pushes individuals into a vicious cycle of dental health problems. Even taking special care to keep your teeth clean tartar on your teeth can still build up in hard-to-reach places.
If there is an excessive amount of tartar your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend a deep cleaning that combines scraping and root planing. Although you can buy tartar removal tools online just like dental professionals use to scrape teeth there is great risk of damaging your teeth and gums if these tools are used without proper training. We hope that this information about scraping your teeth and removing tartar will help you make more informed decisions about your dental care for better oral hygiene in future.
