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MosdentISTANBUL 1992
// Mosdent Journal

Dental Tartar Cleaning

An honest gap first: the two randomised trials in Cochrane's review of routine scale and polish did not assess adverse effects at all, so claims in either direction are unsupported. What is measured is flossing, which may reduce gingivitis at one month across 8 trials with 585 participants.

Dr Hakan KavalWritten by
Published
4 minread
Dr Ferit Kaval, PhDmedical review
Gloved hands polishing a reclined patient's upper teeth with handpiece and mouth mirror
Mosdent Journal·4 min
// Quick answer

Dental scaling is the professional removal of mineralised plaque, meaning calculus, from crown and root surfaces using ultrasonic and hand instruments, usually followed by polishing; the combined procedure is called a scale and polish. It is neither a whitening treatment nor a replacement for daily cleaning. In Cochrane's pooled data from 1,711 regularly attending adults without severe periodontitis, six-monthly scale and polish reduced calculus against no scheduled treatment (standardised mean difference -0.32, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.20) while gingivitis and probing depths changed little or not at all over two to three years (PubMed 30590875).

// Key takeaways
  • 01The procedure has a fixed sequence: examination, ultrasonic instrumentation to break up deposits, hand instruments for what remains, polishing to smooth the surface, and fluoride application where indicated.
  • 02Measured effect on calculus, against no scheduled treatment: standardised mean difference -0.32 (95% CI -0.44 to -0.20) at six-monthly intervals and -0.19 (95% CI -0.31 to -0.07) at twelve-monthly, high-certainty evidence from 1,711 participants (PubMed 30590875).
  • 03Neither of the two trials in that review measured adverse effects, attachment level change, tooth loss or halitosis, so claims about scaling harming teeth have no trial data behind them in either direction (PubMed 30590875).
  • 04Interdental cleaning is the half you control: flossing added to brushing may reduce gingivitis at one month (standardised mean difference -0.58, 95% CI -1.12 to -0.04; 8 trials, 585 participants), at low certainty (PubMed 30968949).
  • 05Interdental brushes showed the largest plaque effect in the same Cochrane review (standardised mean difference -1.07, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.63; 2 trials, 93 participants), while oral irrigators did not reduce plaque more than brushing alone (PubMed 30968949).

Dental health is an important part of our overall health. Dental tartar cleaning has a great computer for a healthy and aesthetic smile . Dental cleaning that is not done regularly can lead to tartar formation and long-term serious gum problems. In this article, we will discuss all the necessary details about dental tartar cleaning.

What is Tartar?

Tartar is plaque that accumulates on the surface of the teeth and at the gum line and hardens over time. Plaque is formed by the combination of food residue and bacteria. If plaque is not cleaned regularly, it hardens with the minerals in the saliva and becomes tartar.

Tartar not only causes an aesthetically bad appearance, but can also cause serious problems that can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Therefore, tartar cleaning is of great importance for the protection of oral and dental health.

/ How Does Tartar Form?

Tartar formation occurs in several stages:

  • Plaque Formation: Bacteria that accumulate on the surface of the teeth after eating cause the formation of dental plaque. If regular brushing is not done, plaque accumulates quickly.
  • Plaque Hardening: Plaques harden by combining with minerals in saliva and turn into tartar over time.
  • More Accumulation: Uncleaned tartar causes more plaque accumulation, negatively affecting oral health.

Factors that accelerate tartar formation include smoking, excessive tea and coffee consumption, inadequate oral hygiene and excessive consumption of sugary foods.

/ What is Dental Scaling?

Dental scaling is the professional cleaning of hardened plaque and tartar that accumulates on the surface of the teeth and at the gum line . This process is performed by dentists and helps protect oral health.

If dental scaling is not done regularly, it can lead to inflammation of the gums, gum recession and serious periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to have dental scaling done at least once a year.

/ How is tartar cleaning done?

Tartar cleaning is done by dentists using professional equipment. The process consists of the following stages:

  • Examination: First, the dentist checks your gum health and tartar formation.
  • Use of Ultrasonic Devices: Ultrasonic vibration devices are used to clean tartar. These devices break down the tartar and remove it from the tooth surface.
  • Use of Hand Tools: Remaining small tartar is scraped off with special hand tools.
  • Polishing: Tooth surfaces are polished with a special paste and polished. This process delays the formation of new plaque and tartar.
  • Fluoride Application: Fluoride can be applied to strengthen tooth enamel. This helps prevent cavities.
  • Oral Hygiene Recommendations: The dentist helps prevent tartar formation by providing regular care recommendations to the patient.

/ Things to Consider After Tartar Cleaning

Some sensitivity may be experienced after tartar cleaning. However, this is temporary. Things to consider after the procedure are as follows:

  • Avoid extremely hot and cold foods for the first 24 hours.
  • Limit smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption.
  • Brush your teeth regularly and floss.
  • Maintain oral hygiene by using mouthwash.
  • There may be slight bleeding in the teeth after the procedure, but this will pass in a short time.

/ Advantages of Dental Scaling

There are many advantages to having regular dental scaling:

  • Healthier Gums: Helps prevent gum disease.
  • Whiter Teeth: Cleans stains on the surface of your teeth, providing a brighter smile.
  • Fresher Breath: Prevents bad breath.
  • Longer-Lasting Teeth: Prevents tooth loss and maintains a healthy oral structure.
  • Protecting General Health: Oral health is directly related to general body health.

/ How Often Should You Clean Your Teeth?

The rate at which tartar forms can vary from person to person. In general, dentists recommend professional dental cleanings once or twice a year. However, more frequent cleanings may be necessary in the following cases:

  • People who smoke and consume a lot of coffee
  • People with a history of gum disease
  • People who frequently consume sugary and acidic foods
  • Individuals who use braces

/ How to Prevent Tartar Formation?

You can take the following precautions to prevent tartar formation:

  • Regular Teeth Brushing: Brushing should be done at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
  • Using Dental Floss: Flossing prevents tartar formation by cleaning plaque that accumulates between teeth.
  • Using Mouthwash: Antiseptic mouthwashes protect gum health by preventing the growth of bacteria.
  • Healthy Diet: Tartar formation can be minimized by avoiding sugary and acidic foods.
  • Regular Dentist Checkups: You should visit your dentist every 6 months to have your oral health checked.

/ Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is tartar removal painful?

No. Tartar removal generally causes little to no discomfort. There may be slight sensitivity, but this is temporary.

  • Does tartar removal damage tooth enamel?

No, professionally performed tartar removal does not damage tooth enamel. On the contrary, it makes teeth healthier.

  • What should be considered after tartar removal?

Extremely hot and cold foods should be avoided for the first 24 hours, and smoking and caffeine consumption should be limited.

  • Can tartar be removed at home?

Plaque formation can be prevented by brushing and flossing at home, but professional help is necessary to remove hardened tartar.

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// Written by
Hakan Kaval
Dentist Hakan Kaval
Implantology · Aesthetic Dentistry
Medically reviewed by: Dr Ferit Kaval, PhD

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// Frequently Asked

Frequently asked questions

How is tartar actually removed at the dentist?+

An ultrasonic scaler vibrates the deposits loose with water cooling, then hand instruments scrape off what the ultrasonic tip could not reach, particularly around root surfaces and interdental spaces. The teeth are polished afterwards to smooth the surface, which slows the next round of plaque attaching. Fluoride is applied in some protocols to strengthen the freshly exposed enamel surface. An ultrasonic scaler is an instrument that vibrates deposits loose while water cools the tip.

How often do I need a dental cleaning?+

Once or twice a year suits most people, adjusted for how quickly they form calculus. The evidence for the interval is thinner than it sounds: Cochrane found six-monthly cleaning reduced calculus slightly more than twelve-monthly (standardised mean difference -0.13, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.01), with no difference in gingivitis or probing depths and clinical importance described as unclear (PubMed 30590875).

Does dental scaling weaken teeth?+

There is no trial figure to quote, because the two randomised trials in Cochrane's review of routine scale and polish did not assess adverse effects at all (PubMed 30590875). What is established is that the deposit being removed is a plaque reservoir at the gum margin. If you have exposed root surfaces or existing sensitivity, tell the clinician before the appointment so instrumentation is adjusted.

Why are my teeth sensitive after a cleaning?+

Root surfaces that were covered by calculus are exposed once the deposit is removed, and root dentine responds to temperature more readily than enamel. That is why extremely hot and cold foods are best avoided for the first 24 hours. Slight bleeding at the gum margin in the same period reflects inflamed tissue settling, and it usually resolves as the gums firm up over the following days.

Can good flossing replace professional cleaning?+

No, because the two act on different things. Flossing removes plaque before it mineralises and may reduce gingivitis at one month (standardised mean difference -0.58, 95% CI -1.12 to -0.04; 8 trials, 585 participants) (PubMed 30968949). It cannot remove calculus that has already hardened onto the tooth. Home cleaning is prevention, instrumentation is removal, and neither substitutes for the other.

What makes tartar build up quickly?+

Plaque left in place is the raw material, and salivary mineral content decides how fast it hardens. Smoking, heavy tea and coffee consumption, frequent sugary foods and inconsistent interdental cleaning all speed the cycle. Orthodontic appliances add retention sites the brush cannot easily reach, which is why people wearing fixed braces are often placed on a shorter recall than they were before treatment.

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