Dental calculus is a hard and slippery substance that forms as a result of the minerals in saliva combining with plaque on the teeth and hardening over time, and accumulates on the surface of the teeth. Dental calculus usually accumulates in the areas close to the gums and on the lower part of the teeth. Dental calculus is also known as tartar and is usually yellow or brown in color. In addition, dental calculus can cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and gum diseases.
Sugar and starch in the foods we eat combine with bacteria in the mouth to form a thin, sticky layer called plaque. This plaque is usually soft and may not be visible on the teeth.
Plaque formation increases especially after meals because there is more bacterial activity in the mouth.
2-Mineral Accumulation:Saliva in the mouth provides minerals to these plaques that accumulate on the teeth. Calcium and phosphate minerals in saliva adhere to the tooth surface and harden the plaques.
Plaque, while soft at first, can harden and turn into tartar within a few days.
Tooth Calculus Formation:If plaque remains on the teeth long enough, it becomes completely mineralized and hardens. Tartar is formed from this hardened plaque.
Tartar usually accumulates more near the gums, on the lower front teeth, and especially in the areas where the salivary glands open into the mouth.
Tartar cannot be cleaned at home with regular brushing and flossing. This requires professional dental cleaning. There are different techniques that the dentist can use to clean tartar:
1. Ultrasonic Cleaning:The dentist cleans the tartar with an ultrasonic device. This device breaks and cleans the tartar using high-frequency vibrations. The device physically breaks the tartar and cools it with water, thus preventing damage to the teeth.
Ultrasonic devices clean tartar more efficiently and are usually painless.
2. Manual Cleaning (Cleaning with Hand Tools):The dentist manually cleans the tartar deposits using special tools.
This method may be preferred for removing deeper and harder tartar.
3. Air-Flow System:Some dentists clean tartar using systems called air-flow or pulverization. This method uses a mixture of pressurized water and powder that smoothes the tooth surface and removes plaque and tartar.
4. Curettage:If the tartar has gone down to the gums, curettage may be necessary. In this procedure, the dentist cleans and smoothes the surface of the tooth roots. This procedure is important for the healing of the gums.
Cleaning tartar requires a professional procedure, but regular dental care and dentist check-ups can prevent tartar formation.
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