Technology to the Rescue: How Dental Cleaning Has Been Improved
Congratulations, if you have taken on a commitment to improve the appearance of your smile and the general health of your mouth. One of your first tasks must be to schedule a dental cleaning. Many people do not have fond memories of this type of procedure, but you should know that technology has come to your rescue. Your dental professional today has a number of options available to make the entire visit less challenging. What has changed?
Tackling Plaque
It is first important to understand what the enemy is here. Plaque is basically a film of bacteria that accumulates on your teeth each day, causing something called "biofilm" to develop. Over time, this film can progress to create pockets of separation between the teeth and gums. These pockets will naturally attract minute particles of food, which then go on to harden as plaque deposits that we know as tartar.
The Old Way
Traditionally, your dentist would set about removing this hardened plaque using a technique called scaling. A very long-winded and somewhat unpleasant procedure had to be tackled purely by hand. However, this is one of the areas where technology has made rapid gains.
A dental hygienist used to use a special instrument to scrape away the tartar, but the outcome was largely dependent on how skilful the hygienist was. Meanwhile, remember how long you had to sit in that chair while the hygienist scraped away, especially in the event of a long-term accumulation.
Modern Day Difference
Fast forward to today and your hygienist is able to use one of the new ultrasonic power scalers. This instrument uses vibration to first of all loosen and then disintegrate the tartar deposits. This is a lot more efficient and quite a bit faster, too. The instruments that are used can penetrate much further into the problematic areas as they have small tips. This makes them much more efficient than those manual tools. Water is sprayed at the same time as the equipment is being used, to help get rid of the bacteria. For you, it is likely to take a lot less time out of your schedule and be a much more pleasant experience than before.
How Do They Work?
These ultrasonic scalers convert electricity into energy, with tiny low and high-pressure points. The bubbles of water vapour introduced become "agitated" so much that they literally implode, releasing a miniature burst of heat and pressure. It's this action that breaks apart the tartar so efficiently.
Whether you're undergoing general or cosmetic dentistry, look for a clinic that utilizes up-to-date technology for an easier, less stressful experience.