Dental Scaling and Polish: Necessary Procedures before Teeth Whitening
Dental cleanings involve your dentist removing plaque and tartar deposits built on your teeth over time. Your teeth are bathed in saliva, which contains substances like calcium that help strengthen and protect your teeth.
Although this is beneficial, people tend to get a buildup of calcium deposits in the teeth. This substance builds over time on the surface of our teeth. Normally, it’s tooth colored and can easily be mistaken as part of the teeth, but it also varies from brown to black.
The purpose of scaling and polishing is to leave the surfaces of your teeth clean and smooth so that bacteria cannot stick to your teeth and provide you with a better chance of keeping the teeth clean during a regular daily hygiene routine.
What are the Procedures Involved in Scaling and Polishing?
The procedure involved in scaling is as follows:
Your dentist in Millennium Smiles on Legacy uses specialized instruments to remove plaque and tartar deposits without harming your teeth. The transonic scaler will use vibrations to help loosen hardened tartar that sticks in between teeth. Your dentist will also use what does spray to wash away the debris.
Polishing
This is usually done after scaling to remove stains and make the teeth feel smooth and shiny. Your dentist on Lebanon Road does polishing with that soft rubber cup that spins. Then, they use a special toothpaste, a prophylaxis paste, and turn it around on the teeth. It helps remove stains, plaque, and debris from your teeth.
Scaling and polishing are done before having your teeth whitened.
How is Whitening Done?
Professional teeth whitening is not a complicated or painful procedure, but it requires skill to avoid injury to the gum area. Also, expensive equipment might be needed to help prepare and finish the procedure. For example, teeth whitening in Frisco, TX, takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
There are standard steps to perform during professional teeth whitening:
Before starting, your dentist would record the current shade of your teeth. They will then polish your teeth with pumice to remove any plaque on the surface.
The dentist will isolate your mouth with gauze to keep your teeth dry. They might also use retractors to keep your lips, cheeks, and tongue away from the whitening solution. They’ll then place a barrier along the gum line that protects you from exposure to the solution.
Next, your teeth will only be coated with the whitening solution on the front surface. The whitening solution includes either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the bleaching agent.
Many tightening products require a laser or curing light to activate the peroxide. Once the solution is applied, it’s left on the teeth for about 30 to 60 minutes, but it can also be reapplied depending on the brand. Once your teeth reach an optimum shade, they are rinsed. Next, the dentist might use fluoride to help ease tooth sensitivity. They will then schedule additional visits until you get the desired shade.
Upon completion, your dentist will advise you to avoid bridges and foods with a high level of pigment for at least 48 hours. These include tea, coffee, yellow mustard, tomato sauce, candies, beats, red wine, black grapes, and tomato juice. You should also avoid any tobacco or smoking.
Teeth Whitening Gels: is it Safe to Use on Sensitive Teeth?
Teeth whitening gels make your tooth enamel more permeable temporarily. This is because they expose the soft dentin layer that contains the nerves of your teeth. Some teeth whitening gels may exert force on your teeth which will make your teeth sensitive temporarily.
However, the gel used in-office teeth whitening it’s safe on your teeth and gums. Your dentist will ensure they’ve addressed any dental issue before whitening your teeth.
What’s the Difference between Teeth Whitening and Scaling and Polishing?
Teeth whitening is a dental procedure performed by our Frisco cosmetic dentist to help lighten your teeth. On the other hand, scaling and planing is a dental procedure that helps remove dental plaque, tartar, and things on the outer surface of your teeth.
Scaling and polishing help prevent and control the severity of gum disease. After the procedure, your teeth will appear later if there are many stains on the outer surface. If the stains are intrinsic, you will need teeth whitening to remove them since there will be no changes after scaling and polishing.