Dental hygiene

Dental hygiene is the process by which preventative dental care is provided to avoid dental emergencies. At the core of dental hygiene is the in-home dental care regimen you perform. While you are responsible for day-to-day dental maintenance, the dentist provides preventative oral care.Tooth brushing is fundamentally important, though it alone will not remove the calculus (also called tartar or plaque) that builds up over time. Calculus must be removed to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease or even the loss of all your teeth. By removing calculus, you can reduce your chances of needing root canals, tooth extractions, dental bridges,crowns and more. Professional cleaning is recommended every six months. Even those who require deep cleaning or scaling at the standard six-month interval might be better served by more frequent cleanings to avoid further damage, disease and the more invasive treatment necessities (such as scaling and root planing) that can produce tooth sensitivity. It is important to brush and floss teeth after every meal, at least three times a day. Brushing is done in front of, behind, and on top of every tooth to clean and polish the surface. Improper brushing such as brushing too hard can lead to enamel loss and gum recession. Flossing between teeth is done to remove debris that can cause bacteria to form. Your dentist hygienist reviews brushing and flossing habit to ensure that you know how to perform them properly. Using scalers (scraping tools), curets (scoop-shaped instruments) and sometimes additional high-frequency ultrasonic scalers, the dentist cleans each tooth. Cleaning is performed below the gum and between the teeth as well. The dentist polishes the teeth to ensure that the enamel is not disturbed.


Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the dentist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets, because aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold.