Maintaining good oral hygiene practices is vital to avoiding gum disease, tooth loss and more costly dental procedures in the future. Achieving a bright smile also boosts confidence; in addition to brushing and flossing at home, regular scale-and-cleans can remove food debris, bacteria and stains not removed by regular home cleanings.
Scaling and Root Planing
Even with regular brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar buildup may still persist between dental appointments. Our dentists and hygienists can help remove this buildup using periodontal scaling and root planing – a deep cleaning procedure used to treat early-stage gum disease and avoid progressing to more serious stages, like periodontitis.
It involves extracting bacteria that has infected pockets between your teeth and gums using special tools, before smoothing any rough spots on each tooth surface to stop further infiltration of bacteria from returning in future appointments.
This treatment can reduce bleeding gums, improve bad breath and decrease the risk of more serious dental issues in the future, such as loosening of teeth or loss. Furthermore, this creates a healthier oral environment which encourages good daily oral hygiene practices – an integral component of long-term dental wellness and health.
Teeth Polishing
Your hygienist will then use a handheld instrument to carefully scrape away any remaining tartar and plaque from your teeth surfaces, possibly feeling some slight pressure during this step of the procedure; but should not cause pain.
Plaque left uncleaned through brushing can harden into calculus – an unsightly hardened substance with a rough surface that allows new plaque to adhere easily, compounding the issue further.
Dental hygienists commonly employ polishers containing calcium carbonate, perlite or aluminum silicate as these materials are less abrasive than pumice and produce minimal scratch marks on tooth surfaces. Furthermore, water sprays help minimise heat build-up and alleviate patients’ sensitivity issues.
Teeth polishing is an integral component of dental scale and clean treatment as it helps remove stains. Bright, white teeth will boost confidence when smiling while helping you better care for them at home.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is a life-threatening health problem with an alarming mortality rate, in part due to being detected late. Regular screenings for oral cancer can reduce this number by finding early stage disease before it progresses further.
An oral cancer screening involves having your mouth and throat examined by either a dentist or physician on an ongoing basis, including examination of cheeks, lips, tongue, throat and jaws for any abnormalities or precancerous or cancerous lesions. Biopsy may be recommended in order to accurately determine their nature.
Although smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are risk factors for oral cancer, its development can occur across lifestyles. That is why regular appointments with your dental professional for screenings is highly recommended to reduce your risk of oral cancer as well as future health issues.
Bad Breath Treatment
Scaling and cleaning are an integral component of fighting gum disease, which has been linked to serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Scaling helps remove sticky plaque from below the gum line that cannot be reached with brushes; cleaning also removes food debris that helps decrease bad breath odor.
Regular brushing, flossing and hydration can help minimize bad breath that comes from within your mouth; however, sometimes halitosis has other sources; if this is the case for you, consult with a physician regarding acid reflux, postnasal drip and any other health conditions that might contribute to bad breath odor.
Your dentist can provide additional measures to reduce breath odor caused by these health conditions, or refer you to either your primary physician or specialist for further treatment. Treatment could involve changing diet or medication intake or finding other methods to control odor sources.
For a brighter, healthier smile, regular dental scale and clean appointments are crucial. In this guide, we explore the benefits оf scaling and root planing, teeth polishing, oral cancer screenings, and bad breath treatment offered at our Newmarket dental clinic.
