Dental cleaning
Dental cleaning
Tooth cleaning involves the removal of dental plaque (a soft, sticky bacterial film on the teeth), tartar deposits and inflammatory bleeding tissue inside the gums. The teeth are located in an environment of saliva, which contains calcium and other elements that strengthen and protect the teeth from caries. The salts of saliva contribute, at the same time, to the formation of tartar. The tartar is usually the color of the teeth but can range between yellow, brown and black. When tartar, as its dental name implies, accumulates on the teeth, it creates the conditions for bacteria to accumulate near the gums.
The purpose of cleaning and polishing is
1)remove the bleeding gum tissue so that it adheres tightly to the teeth again and regenerates the supporting bone, where possible.
2)to ensure smooth dental surfaces to prevent bacteria from attaching to them: this will make it easy to keep teeth clean with the usual oral hygiene that we apply at home. Also, cleaning leaves the teeth pleasant to the touch with the tongue. Cleaning is performed with specialized devices and the appropriate tools to carefully remove the tartar without damaging the teeth.
Ultrasonic device:
Initially, the ultrasound device is used, which uses vibrations that cause the removal of large tartar deposits. The device sprays water, which maintains the correct temperature in the area and helps to remove calcareous deposits.
Hand instruments:
After removing the larger pieces of tartar, the cleaning is continued with the hand tools, if necessary, in order to remove the smaller deposits and to smooth the dental surfaces. These tools are bent and follow the curves of the teeth.
Polishing:
After all the deposits are removed and the teeth are smoothed, the teeth are polished. This is done either with a rubber brush along with grinding cream or with an airflow device.
Fluoridation:
It is the last stage of cleansing. In children, usually, and in adults, when there are many damaged teeth, we do fluoridation: topical application of fluoride with specially designed toothpicks. Fluoride combines with saliva to form compounds that bind to teeth and protect them from tooth decay.
Does dental cleaning hurt?
When done regularly, cleaning is not painful. There may be some discomfort when there is gingivitis in the gums. When there are more advanced diseases, such as periodontitis, then the cleaning and deep abrasions required are done under local anesthesia.
Υγιή ούλα
Healthy gums
Gingivitis
Healthy gums are pink in color, they are firmly attached to the teeth and have a dotted appearance ("orange peel" appearance).
Also, they do not bleed when checked with the dental probe.
On the contrary, when they suffer from gingivitis, they bleed during the detection, come off the teeth, have a red color and a smooth surface. Tartar often coexists around the teeth.
Gingivitis may be accompanied by moderate discomfort in the cold and after eating, at the sites of inflammation.
Gingivitis, when it is at an early stage, is a reversible disease. It must be treated because if not treated in time it will cause serious damage to the periodontium, such as:
-Destruction of the bone that supports the teeth.
-Bad smell.
-Receding gums.
-Tooth mobility, pain and, gradually, tooth loss.
How it is treated:
The treatment of gingivitis is done by cleaning the teeth and gums by the dentist.
Proper oral hygiene by the patient is important for health. Frequent re-examination, every 6-12 months, helps to restore and maintain health.
On the contrary, when they suffer from gingivitis, they bleed during the detection, come off the teeth, have a red color and a smooth surface. Tartar often coexists around the teeth.
Gingivitis may be accompanied by moderate discomfort in the cold and after eating, at the sites of inflammation.
Gingivitis, when it is at an early stage, is a reversible disease. It must be treated because if not treated in time it will cause serious damage to the periodontium, such as:
-Destruction of the bone that supports the teeth.
-Bad smell.
-Receding gums.
-Tooth mobility, pain and, gradually, tooth loss.
How it is treated:
The treatment of gingivitis is done by cleaning the teeth and gums by the dentist.
Proper oral hygiene by the patient is important for health. Frequent re-examination, every 6-12 months, helps to restore and maintain health.
Περιοδοντίτιδα
Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a serious periodontal disease. Inflammation of the periodontium starts as gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis will develop into periodontal disease, which is an inflammation of the gums and bone that supports the teeth. In severe cases of periodontal disease, bone destruction will gradually lead to tooth loss.
Symptoms of periodontal disease:
- Red or purple swollen gums.
- Gums that hurt.
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing.
- Teeth that have mobility or are loose.
- Persisting bad breath.
- Receding gums.
- Periodontal pockets, which are the gaps formed between the teeth and the gums. Those areaaa collect dental plaque, which intensifies the infection and inflammation of the gums. The dentist measures the depth of the periodontal pockets and determines the severity of the disease.
- Help the gums reattach to the teeth.
- Reduce the swelling of the gums.
- Reduce the depth of the periodontal pockets.
- Reduce the chance of infection.
- Stop the development of the disease.
Dental abscess
Gingival-periodontal abscess
Periodontal abscess - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.
A periodontal abscess is a collection of pus that can occur in the gums. It generally occurs in those affected by chronic periodontal disease (in the vast majority of cases).
It is termed ‘gingival abscess’ if only the gums are affected.
What causes this condition?
The primary causative factor is certain bacteria. When conditions are right, bacteria can rapidly multiply in the space between the tooth and gum. If allowed to spread faster than the immune system can counteract it, then the bacteria may cause an abscess.
Such ideal conditions for bacterial growth are found when there is a periodontal pocket (see graphic below). When gums are healthy, they tightly adhere to the teeth. When gum disease develops, they detach gradually, leading to a space between them and the tooth. A pocket is another word for this space.
The pocket is hard to clean and as such plaque, tartar and food debris may collect. This leads to an ideal environment for pus to accumulate.
The causes of periodontal disease (which can lead to abscesses) include:
What symptoms may occur;
Acute vs chronic periodontal infections
These are the two main categories of infection, and are categorised depending on the time they have been present. Here are the main differences:
An acute lateral periodontal abscess will arise quite quickly and is generally more severe in terms of the symptoms that occur.
A chronic abscess is one that has been present for some time. Generally speaking, these infections are ‘draining’. This means that the pus is slowly shed via the gum or a hole in the gum (a sinus). As the pus does not build up at the same rate, the infection is not as symptomatic. It may mimic a periodontal cyst.
Periodontal Abscess Treatment .
If you have any of the above symptoms, particularly if a swelling is spreading quickly (cellulitis), then seek immediate advice from your dentist. Any treatment will vary depending on how severe the dental abscess is. Here are the general steps taken:
It is best to get treatment early, not only for health reasons (as abscesses can be dangerous), but also for a better prognosis. A periodontal abscess can quickly destroy the gum tissues that hold a tooth in place. If left to fester, then the outlook for the tooth can be very poor.
A periodontal abscess is a collection of pus that can occur in the gums. It generally occurs in those affected by chronic periodontal disease (in the vast majority of cases).
It is termed ‘gingival abscess’ if only the gums are affected.
What causes this condition?
The primary causative factor is certain bacteria. When conditions are right, bacteria can rapidly multiply in the space between the tooth and gum. If allowed to spread faster than the immune system can counteract it, then the bacteria may cause an abscess.
Such ideal conditions for bacterial growth are found when there is a periodontal pocket (see graphic below). When gums are healthy, they tightly adhere to the teeth. When gum disease develops, they detach gradually, leading to a space between them and the tooth. A pocket is another word for this space.
The pocket is hard to clean and as such plaque, tartar and food debris may collect. This leads to an ideal environment for pus to accumulate.
A periodontal pocket with an abscess is labelled number 2 in the graphic. Label 1 refers to a periapical abscess.
The causes of periodontal disease (which can lead to abscesses) include:
- Poor oral hygiene and neglect of one’s teeth
- Smoking cigarettes
- Some medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes.
- People with reduced immune function, due to some diseases or medications for example, are at an increased risk of abscesses in general.
What symptoms may occur;
- The most common of the periodontal abscess symptoms is a swelling in the gum. Any swelling can vary greatly in size, and may arise quite quickly. It will have a red, often shiny appearance and may have a white ‘head’. This swelling will be very tender to touch. Pain, which may be severe, usually accompanies an acute flare-up.
- The pain, which can be intense, is usually accompanied by acute inflammation.
- Bad breath from, and taste in, your mouth.
- Bleeding from the area.
- The affected tooth or teeth may become noticeably looser and may drift slightly, leading to spacing between the teeth.
- The tooth may be shed in cases of very severe periodontal disease.
Acute vs chronic periodontal infections
These are the two main categories of infection, and are categorised depending on the time they have been present. Here are the main differences:
An acute lateral periodontal abscess will arise quite quickly and is generally more severe in terms of the symptoms that occur.
A chronic abscess is one that has been present for some time. Generally speaking, these infections are ‘draining’. This means that the pus is slowly shed via the gum or a hole in the gum (a sinus). As the pus does not build up at the same rate, the infection is not as symptomatic. It may mimic a periodontal cyst.
Periodontal Abscess Treatment .
If you have any of the above symptoms, particularly if a swelling is spreading quickly (cellulitis), then seek immediate advice from your dentist. Any treatment will vary depending on how severe the dental abscess is. Here are the general steps taken:
- Drainage of the pus, via the gum (usually) or an incision in the swelling.
- Antibiotics may be needed.
- Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) of the area to clear any tartar and plaque and help the gum heal.
- Periodontal surgery may be needed.
- Root canal may be needed in the case of a ‘perio-endo’ lesion. Here both the pulp and periodontal tissues are infected.
- Where extraction of the affected tooth is the only option this will be carried out..
It is best to get treatment early, not only for health reasons (as abscesses can be dangerous), but also for a better prognosis. A periodontal abscess can quickly destroy the gum tissues that hold a tooth in place. If left to fester, then the outlook for the tooth can be very poor.
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