Dental polishing and scaling procedure is usually carried out by dentists or dental hygienists to bring back the lost shine to your teeth. It involves cleaning the gum-line to remove tartar and plaque and it's recommended to be carried out once every three months.
It is important to note that your teeth are constantly immersed in saliva. Saliva is made up of calcium and other elements that help to strengthen and protect your teeth. On the flip side calcium tends to accumulate and become deposits on teeth. Eventually, tartar builds up which does not mean well for your teeth. Sometimes, tartar can take the color of teeth and in some other cases, turn black or brown.
If you ignore and allow the build up of tartar on your teeth, it will lead to a situation where bacteria gets accumulated near the gums. Polishing and dental scaling procedures ensure that the surface of the teeth are always clean and smooth in order to prevent bacteria from adhering to teeth. You will have a smooth, clean feeling of teeth after the procedure with a visible shine.
Moreover, polishing and scaling procedures get rid of stains of food and beverages such as tea, coffee and red wine. Stains caused by the snuff can also be removed through this procedure. In some cases, it is performed to allow detection of some oral or systemic diseases that manifest orally.
Scaling and polishing are two of the most common dental procedures to treat or prevent prophylaxis. While dentists advise everyone to brush their teeth at least three times a day or after each meal to prevent damage to the teeth. Yet there’s a possibility of plaque and tartar building up.
This happens because the mouth and teeth have a bacterial film. Saliva contains calcium which is needed to keep teeth strong and healthy. As a person eats food, the food is converted into starch or sugar, which is then combined with the bacteria. As this cycle continues, the teeth are placed in a more acidic environment, which may cause staining and damage to the enamel overtime.
Scaling involves the use of a specialized instrument to loosen and remove plaque and tartar without damaging the gums and teeth. This is then followed by polishing that removes surface stains while making teeth appear clear and shiny. Your dentist will use another instrument, along with a special paste for polishing teeth.
Well, the frequency is often different for different individuals. The ‘once in 6 month’ rule is not applicable for everyone. Depending upon your lifestyle and eating habits your teeth may be susceptible to forming bacteria and plaque.
Each person, despite having good teeth or not, whether the gums are healthy or not, if a large amount of plaque and tartar is generated or not, whether you brush and floss like a pro regularly or not. That’s right, every person needs to see the dentist every 6 months.
Per session of scaling and polishing can cost anywhere between $50 – $100 being the lowest. Different other factors also determine the cost like severity of the case, location age, insurance coverage and more.