Dental Tartar:Treatment, Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

The dental tartar is built up when dental plague is not removed on a regular basis and the minerals from the saliva are deposited over the plague biofilm that causes it to harden and thus form tartar. Tartar is also known as the dental calculus and is a yellow or brownish deposit that is formed due to the hardening of the plague. Some of the major causes and conditions due to which tartar is formed are crowded teeth, braces, smoking habits, due to aging and even due to dry mouth. The best precautions and treatment for preventing tartar to build up is by using a strong bristle brush and brushing and flossing effectively as well as using good quality fluoride based mouthwash that will help in cleaning the teeth effectively from all sides as well as in the crevices. There are also anti-plague toothpaste that are available in the market and can be used in order to prevent plague and thus tartar from building up. Stimulation of saliva is also a great way since it also protects the teeth from the formation of harmful plague and tartar. Thus, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal that will lead to more creation of saliva and thus saliva will help in protecting the teeth from plague formation. It is important to be proactive since once the plague is formed it is very difficult to remove it and might destroy the whole tooth thus, leading to falling of teeth. Once plague finds its place in the teeth it will require a whole lot of dental procedure of cleaning and plague removal followed by capping of tooth.

The dental officials and specialists through specific tools or instruments that are designed for debridement of Tooth surfaces do the removal of dental plague and tartar. Such tools are important for removing the calculus since it cannot be removed with brushing and flossing once it has strongly build up. Brushing and flossing are more of preventive measures that can be done before plague forms or at its initial formation stage. Scalars, curettes, jaquettes, hoes, files and chisels are some of the hand-made instruments that are used by the dental officials for the removal of plague and tartar. The entire cleaning process has to be done in order to get the plague out of the teeth as well as if there is further formation of cavities then that has to be taken out with further capping process to be done for that tooth. Ultrasonic scalars that are also called as power scalars are also used to remove stains, plague and tartars. The treatment starts from physical diagnosis through the glass mirror that lets him see the affected tooth. It is then followed by cleaning procedure followed by flossing and followed by a fluoride treatment. With current researches, new effective and efficient method of tartar and plague removal has been found that proposes the use of near-ultraviolet and near-infrared lasers in periodontal therapy, which is much more efficient and advantageous than the conventional hand instrumentation since the thin and flexible fibres can reach the periodontal pockets or spaces that is not as easy in the former way.

Apart from these clinical treatments, many precautions can also be taken at home by using toothpaste containing fluorides and zinc citrate that has been witnessed to be effective in reducing plague and tartar formation. Apart from this mouthwash is also a necessary tool to be used for a better prevention from formation of plague and thus tartar.

Everyone should get this treatment for once in every six months in order to prevent his or her teeth from being heavily damaged from plague formation. Most people do ignore this procedure since they wait for when the problem gets bigger however everyone should do this cleaning session at intervals of six months for a better oral hygiene. It is especially advisable for people with bad eating, drinking and smoking habits as well as children who frequently get cavities in their teeth. On a whole, everyone is eligible for this particular treatment for a proper cleaning of his or her teeth.

Heart patients are advised to tell their dentist prior to the treatment about their heart problem so that under such circumstances some of the steps of the procedure would not be performed. On the other hand, no other exception is there to be eligible for the treatment. It is an oral hygiene friendly procedure that can be done by anybody and everybody irrespective of age, gender or any other factor. People do fear from the process due to the steps involved however, a light conversation with the dentist about the safe and effectiveness of the procedure can help people to overcome the fear.

There are no such huge or severe side effects of this procedure. There could be a slight jaw discomfort that happens due to the opening out of the mouth for a long period of time that will get to its normal state in some time. In addition, if anybody has sensitivity in their teeth then they might go through the zinging sensation in their teeth for some time but will soon get better after the procedure is done.In case any patient reports any other complexity after undergoing the treatment the patient is advised to consult the doctor immediately.

There is no such strict guidelines to be followed for a recovery post the treatment. You ca go back to the normal daily activity and no bed rest is needed for a recovery. However, a good oral hygiene precaution and steps for ensuring oral wellness is to be followed as advised by the dentist. Accurately cleaning and flossing activities are necessary at regular intervals for a better strength, appearance and growth of the teeth and the gums. Thus, it is important to keep the teeth and gums in good and proper conditions.

There is no such huge recovery period involved after this procedure is done. The patient can immediately get back to their normal day structure with oral hygiene guidelines in mind. However, if there is person with sensitive teeth then he or she might be suggested to take some rest in order to get back to normal condition with some amount of tingling sensation that triggers due to cleansing. Apart from this, the person undergoing this procedure is good to go.

The price totally depends upon the dental clinic that is being chosen to get the procedure done. Even though it is advised to always go for a reputed dental clinic for such cleansing procedure but it should be known that with higher reputation clinics the prices also go a bit higher. For normal case the price of completely cleaning process as a package is for about INR 1,500 however, if an X-ray is also included the price may go even higher.

It is not a permanent solution or procedure for the problem of plague and tartar formation. The main reason of formation of tartar and plague depends on the person’s eating, lifestyle and oral hygiene practises. A proper care of teeth and oral hygiene with proper cleaning, flossing and use of mouthwash on regular intervals can be a great aid in preventing the reformation of tartar. However, if proper condition is not maintained then it could lead to cavities, plague, tartar and bad breathe problems that will again need a cleaning session to fight against it.

The most effective, efficient and simple alternative to the treatment and to the formation of plague is to prevent it by taking proper precautionary steps and maintaining a good oral hygiene. With proper brushing, flossing, use of mouthwash, eating of healthy foods and then rinsing mouth after every meal as well as no smoking and drinking can help improve the lifestyle and thus the chances of not getting any plagues, tartar, cavities etc. This will not only ensure a good quality oral hygiene but will also help in preventing the problems to occur. Some home remedies which can be opted are :

1. Take a piece of the peel and rub it directly on the teeth for 2-3 minutes and after some time rinse it properly.
2. Chew sesame seeds as these seeds act as a natural scrub. They clean and polish the teeth and help to remove the plaque and tartar.
3. Munch vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables.

However, if the problem still arises then there is no problem in getting the procedure done in regular intervals that is beneficial for our teeth and is not very costly at the same time.