Plaque is an organized structure consisting of food residues, microorganisms and saliva content, which adheres tightly to the tooth. Microorganisms cling to food residues on the tooth surface in the form of colonies, and this colonization process takes up to 24 hours. Therefore, it is possible to remove the plaque before it forms by effective brushing and cleaning of the interdental surfaces.
Dental tartar, on the other hand, is formed by the calcification of the plaque accumulated on the tooth surfaces. The words hardening or calcification can be used instead of the term calcified, although these are not exact equivalents. Dental calculus is also known as "tartar" among the public.
Since both plaque and calculus contain microorganisms, their presence on the tooth surface and around the gums plays a major role in the development of periodontal disease. Therefore, plaque and tartar removal constitutes one of the main steps of periodontal treatment. However, once a person has this treatment, it is unthinkable that he will not need it again throughout his life.
By nature, humans consume food and beverages many times a day, and especially carbohydrate foods tend to stick to the tooth surface. One person consumes 1-1.5 liters a day. It produces saliva, which is a necessity for the human body. In addition, a wide variety of microorganisms naturally exist in the mouth, and their presence does not harm a person's health under normal conditions. However, when combined with poor oral hygiene, these factors have negative consequences for tooth and gum health. Moreover, as a result of the person's negligence, the negative effects that may occur may become increasingly severe. Therefore, it is a necessity to perform professional plaque and tartar cleaning at regular intervals.
Before talking about plaque and tartar cleaning, it is necessary to mention the location of these formations; When plaque or tartar is located above the gum, it is called "supragingival", and when it is located under the gum (between the root surface and the gum), it is called "subgingival".
In plaque removal, rotating rubber or brushes are used to remove plaque. Paste-like mixtures containing fine-grained abrasives, called "paste", are used. In the meantime, both supragingival and subgingival plaque are cleaned by working to reach a small amount below the gum. This process " It is called "polish" or "polishing". One of its features is that the stains on the tooth surface are also removed.
In dental scaling, ultrasonic or sonic devices and hand tools that simply work with water and vibrate are used. or both methods can be used together. Supragingival tartar cleaning can be considered much simpler and faster than subgingival tartar cleaning, since the tartar can be seen in the mouth, although not always. Subgingival tartar is harder and more firmly attached to the tooth due to its structure. In addition, they are more difficult to see, so it may be necessary to spend longer and apply local anesthesia during the procedure depending on the sensitivity of the patient.
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