13 Oct How often should tartar be removed?
Tartar has a negative impact on the tissues surrounding the teeth, so it must be removed regularly. Accumulated plaque, which is not eliminated, can mineralise. As a consequence, the outer surface of the teeth becomes covered with tartar, which may even reach below the gum line. This results in, among other things, bad breath due to excessive bacteria accumulation, hypersensitivity and destruction of enamel, formation of cavities, gum disease. Tartar must therefore be removed. How often? You will find the answer to this question later in our post.
Recommended frequency of tartar removal
Removal of tartar is one of the basic preventive procedures performed as part of the conservative dentistry. It should only be carried out in a dental office. The treatment is simple, relatively quick and completely painless for the patient, so it should not be feared. How often should it be done? The frequency depends mainly on the dentist's recommendations. The standard recommendation is perform tartar removal every six months. However, there are occasions when the procedure needs to be carried out more frequently, such as every three months. This is especially true for patients with or at risk of gum disease. Smokers and people with vitamin C deficiency may also be at greater risk of rapid tartar formation.
What does tartar removal look like?
As already mentioned, tartar removal is a relatively simple, preventive procedure carried out in the dental office. It is referred to as scalingThis is carried out with a specialised tool, the scaler. If tartar is also present under the gums, it may be necessary to clean the periodontal pockets, i.e. curettage. Then sandblasting is recommended, a hygienization procedure designed to remove deposits and prevent discolouration. Finally, the cleaned tooth surface is polished and protected by fluoridation.
