Many people hesitate to go to see Dentists, not until their teeth become very yellowish or brown, with thick tartar over the teeth surface, before going to Dentists to have their teeth cleaned. But do you know the serious consequences of not cleaning your teeth for a long time?
There is a tiny gap between the tooth and surrounding gingival tissue, called gingival sulcus, which can trap plaque or even tiny food debris. Even if you brush your teeth twice daily, there may still be plaque hidden inside the gingival sulcus; with time, Dental Plaque will calcify to form Dental Calculus, which is the main cause of Periodontal Diseases.
The consequences of not having your teeth cleaned for a long time- Periodontal Disease
If you have one or more of the following signs and symptoms, you may be suffering from Periodontal Disease already:
- Gum bleeding spontaneously or during toothbrushing
- Halitosis
- The colour of gum changes from pink to red
- Swollen gum or even with abscess
- Gum recession, exposed tooth root surface and gaps between teeth getting bigger
- Dental sensitivity to hot and cold
- Mobile tooth or reduction in chewing ability
- Tooth position gradually drift or not able to bite together properly
How often should we go for Scaling and Polishing?
For the sake of your dental health,Dentists usually recommend having Scaling and Polishing every 6-12 months.For people suffering from Periodontal Diseases, wearing Dentures, having Orthodontic Treatment, and smokers are advised to increase the frequency of Scaling and Polishing.
The “squeaky” sound produced by the Scaling equipment may be one of the reasons scaring patients away. However, this equipment is very effective in removing Dental Calculus and plaque, which helps in reduction of gum inflammation and Periodontal Disease. Dentists will also use an instrument called “Periodontal Probe” to detect the depth of Periodontal pocket around teeth, and determine the severity of Periodontal disease of the patient, so as to give the most appropriate treatment.
Severity of Periodontal Disease
| Symptoms | Periodontal Pocket Depth | Alveolar Bone Loss Level | |
| Mild Periodontitis | Redness, Inflammation, Gum bleeding, Halitosis | 3-5mm | < 20% |
| Moderate Periodontitis | Significant gingival recession, Root exposure, Sensitivity to hot and cold, reduction in chewing ability | 5-7mm | 20-50% |
| Severe Periodontitis | Obvious tooth mobility, drifting of tooth position, tooth loss | > 7mm | > 50% |
The use of Ultrasonic Scaling equipment in Scaling and Polishing is to use vibration to remove Dental Calculus, plaque and staining from tooth surfaces, and wash them away by water spray, then polishing of tooth surfaces to render them clean and smooth. The time used for Scaling and Polishing depends on the oral condition, usually it takes no longer than 40 mins; but if oral hygiene is very poor with heavy calculus and stain deposits, it may take up to an hour. After teeth are cleaned, it is easier for Dentists to examine the patient's oral condition and whether any oral disease is present.
Do you know?
If you do not go to Dentists for Scaling and Polishing, only rely on daily toothbrushing for teeth cleaning, calculus will accumulate and cause Periodontal Disease. For patients with severe Periodontal Disease, deep cleaning such as Root Planing, or even Periodontal Surgery under local anaesthesia may be needed, with a much higher cost!
The following groups of people need special consultation with Dentists before commencement of Scaling and Polishing:
- Cardiovascular disease patients: People with congenital heart and spleen disease, especially those with heart valve problems, should be careful to prevent bacterial infection caused by dental cleaning and bacterial endocarditis.
- Patients with Pacemakers: the ultrasonic Scaling and Polishing equipment has electromagnetic effect, which may interfere with the function of some Pacemakers
- Blood coagulation problems: for patients taking anticoagulants, or having poor blood coagulation functions, excessive bleeding during Scaling and Polishing may happen.
