What is scale and polish?
Professional cleaning includes scaling and polishing. Scaling is a common non-surgical treatment for removal of infected deposits - tartar or calculus - from the tooth surface. These deposits if not removed lead to periodontal disease. In periodontal disease, the pocket between the tooth and gum begins to deepen. This provides a perfect environment for anaerobic bacteria to grow. If the bacteria begin to multiply rapidly and infect more of the gum and start dissolving the bone supporting the tooth. This leaves the tooth progressively loose. The treatment now becomes more extensive and complicated in order to save the tooth. Surgery of the gums is required in order to make the tissues around the tooth healthy.
What is the procedure?
Scaling involves a deep cleaning of the tooth above and below the gum line in order remove any plaque and calculus that has accumulated on the tooth. This involves the use of special instruments and/or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth. Commonly an ultrasonic machine is used. It has a fine tip which vibrates at ultrasonic frequency and which dislodges tartar and plaque from the tooth surface. As the vibrations are extremely fine the process does not damage the tooth surface in any way. Many dentists recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned at least every 6 to 12 months. More frequent cleaning and examination may be necessary during the treatment of many of the dental/oral disorders.
What is the outcome?
Good oral hygiene prevents, and is vital to the treatment of many of the dental and oral disorders. Good oral hygiene results in a healthy mouth. Moreover, the mouth is the gateway to the whole body. a healthy mouth ensures a healthy body to a great extent.
