Why Your Routine Professional Cleaning Involves Scaling Teeth

Do you ever wonder exactly what your dental hygienist is doing during a routine cleaning? Of course, they floss and polish your teeth as the last step but what about when they use the tool with the metal hook to scrap the bottoms of your teeth near the gum line? They also use compressed air and water to help get the job done. This process is referred to as scaling teeth, a crucial step in deep cleanings that can help prevent and treat periodontist (gum disease) by removing built-up plaque and tartar.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control says that 47.2 percent of people in the United States suffer from mild, moderate or severe periodontist. Periodontist, also known as gum disease or gingivitis at a certain stage, is caused by bacteria-ridden plaque and tartar that sits near the gum line. If plaque isn’t properly removed regularly, it releases toxins that attack gum tissue. Symptoms of periodontist include red, swollen gums that are sensitive and bleed when brushed. Other symptoms include gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth ultimately resulting in elongated looking teeth.  

A severe case of periodontist can lead to tooth loss and permanent damage to the jaw. However, if treated early the damage can usually be reversed by scaling or gum surgery.  During a six-month check-up and teeth cleaning, if a patient is not consistently brushing and flossing, expect the hygienist to be scaling teeth to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar that is cemented on the teeth and cannot be removed with just brushing and flossing at that point.  That is one of the many reasons it is extremely important to get your teeth regularly cleaned by a professional and to properly brush and floss your teeth and gums twice a day.

How the hygienist does the job

There are a few instruments used to scale teeth and your dental hygienist may use depending on the situation. The most common instrument is the hand-held metal scaler. The hygienist will use this instrument to manually remove the plaque and tartar from the teeth by using both the sharp and blunt ends of the scaler. The sharp end is used to scrape build-up on the teeth and the blunt end is used to reach under the gum line and remove plaque without harming the gums.

A sonic scaler and an ultrasonic scaler are the other tools the hygienists use. A sonic scaler sprays compressed water and air, which allows the hygienist to break up the tartar and plaque and then with the ultrasonic scaler an electromagnetic field is generated to chip away at build-up with sound vibrations. The hygienist selects the appropriate tools, after examining the severity of the build-up and assessing the patients’ health. For example, if a patient has a pacemaker, the hygienist should not use an ultrasonic scaler because the electromagnetic field causes pacemaker malfunctions.

At Artistic Dental, we recommend getting your teeth deep cleaned and scaled every six months. When you skip appointments, build-up of plaque and tartar is more likely. Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari, along with our highly-trained team of hygienists believe that proper cleanings are the best way to fight periodontist and gum disease. To make an appointment call (602)- 840-5400.

Four Reasons for Abnormal Pain After Root Canal Surgery

No one is happy to hear that they need a root canal, but if that’s the case it’s likely you are already in pain. Normally, the pain after a root canal will be minimal, if not at all. Unfortunately, there are instances where pain resurfaces. To help differentiate normal pain from abnormal pain, it is beneficial to understand more about the procedure.

A root canal surgery is performed when the pulp in the cavity of the root of the tooth is infected and it needs to be cleaned, repaired and sealed with a crown or a filling. Post procedure pain is normal for 3-5 days due to inflammation. This can range from a dull ache to a sharp pain.  If you experience pain for longer than 3-5 days or the pain went away and then came back days later, it could mean that you are having post root canal complications.

Here are four reasons for abnormal pain after a root canal:

Infection in bone:

As many know, the mouth is swarming with good and bad bacteria. Experiencing pain after the procedure could be due to infection in the bone. Since the root of the infected tooth has already been removed and filled, it is possible that there are still bacteria lingering around the bone of the tooth. Fortunately, this type of infection can be easily cured with a prescription for antibiotics from your dentist.  

Missed canal:

Some teeth have multiple canals in the root so it is possible that an infected canal was missed or undetected. If the dentist determines that there was a missed canal, then the root canal procedure has to be repeated. A repeat root canal is a little more invasive because the crown or the filling the tooth was originally sealed with must be taken out to perform the surgery again and this could risk cracking the tooth in the process.

Oversized Crown or Filling:

Speaking of crowns and fillings, it is possible to experience pain if the final crown or filling is too big or was misplaced. The pain comes from the crown or filling bothering the surrounding teeth or not being able to bite down properly. Luckily, it is very easy for dentists to fix this issue. All they have to do is adjust the filling or crown and the pain should subside in another 3-5 days.

Infected root canal:

If the dentist sealed the root canal with a filling instead of the crown, then there might be another infection due to saliva-carrying bacteria seeping in between the cracks of the filling and infecting the root canal. In this case, a repeat root canal would need to be performed. 

While complications from root canals can happen, it is important to remember that the risk of complications outweigh the risk of not getting the tooth treated in the first place. If you recently had a root canal, be sure to follow the proper after care steps which include brushing and flossing, visiting the dentist regularly and avoiding hard foods that can cause your teeth to break. If you are experiencing abnormal pain post- surgery do not hesitate to call your dentist or make an appointment to get it looked at. The sooner you have the dentist check to rule out or address a complication or infection, the better.