The smile of an individual takes any interaction to the next level. Here at The Dental Hub, we take our task of scaling and polishing teeth with the utmost importance to ensure that you leave our clinic with the pearliest set of teeth possible.
Through years of eating different types of food and drinking beverages like tea, coffee, cola, wine etc., teeth can become discoloured. Scaling, also known as professional cleaning is a process by which the plaque build-up on the surface of the teeth is removed and the enamel is made plain by removal of any debris and detritus that deposit on the tooth surface. For certain individuals, years of plaque deposit and bacterial infestation on the teeth may start causing gum infections. Scaling is the recommended procedure to begin with for such individuals.
Depending on the amount of deposits, the dentist may divide the process into two or more sittings. A dental scaler and curette are the tools used to scrape out the plaque from each individual tooth. For those with sensitive teeth and gums, an anaesthetic shot maybe used to prevent discomfort. Typically, after a scaling procedure, some degree of soreness in the mouth is to be expected and we generally ease this discomfort by providing mouth-washes or desensitizing pastes for oral application. A follow-up appointment, a week or so after scaling is common to check for any gum pocket infections, etc.
Post-scaling, many patients opt for a dental polishing. This involves removal of stains and making the surface of the teeth smooth. Polishing is done purely for cosmetic purposes and is aimed at providing as smooth and build-up free version of the patients teeth as possible. The procedure is done by applying a gritty polishing paste on the teeth with the help of tiny motorised rubber cups. The abrasive motion of the gritty paste on the teeth makes them smooth and gives a polished look and feel. Though it needs to be mentioned that polishing removes the outer enamel of the teeth, this enamel is replenished over time by natural saliva and the usage of fluoride-rich pastes.