

Moreover, it is used for root planning, curettage, and surgical debridement. Ultrasonic scalers are more effective in removing the calculus layer, stain, and plaque.

Hoes, chisels, and files are less widely used as they are beneficial for removing large amounts of calculus. These devices are designed to meet specific needs for different parts of the mouth.Īn ultrasonic device is also used to incorporate a combination of high-frequency vibrations with water to extract the tartar. To achieve the most effective calculus teeth removal, an oral hygienist will use hand-held dental tools like a periodontal scalar, curettes, hoes, files, and chisels. An integral part of being a dental hygienist is getting familiar with the process of plaque and calculus removal, which is famous as debridement. Plaque and calculus deposits are a significant factor in the formation and progression of dental diseases. The plaque layer is mostly seen at both the teeth surface, gum line (known as supragingival), and also in the narrow gap (sulcus) between the gum and the teeth (known as subgingival). Although a mild dental procedure kills the bacteria and leaves a rough and hardened surface, which is more susceptible to further growth of plaque and tartar. This layer of deposition eventually hardens to form a tartar layer. The calculus or the tartar layer is a result of the constant deposition of saliva, Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) and other bacterial deposits over the surface of the teeth.
#Subgingival calculus removal professional#
In that case, one has to take professional help where it can be removed with ultrasonic tools or designated dental tools such as a periodontal scalar. Once formed, calculus is too hard and attached to remove with regular brushing and flossing. Successful treatment also protects the tissues that are surrounded and supported by the teeth (known as periodontium). An effective calculus tartar treatment significantly reduces the number of bacteria present in the mouth, which also hinders the further growth of bacteria.

Diamond-coated ultrasonic tips appeared to be much more efficient than HAND or US in removing calculus in moderate-deep probing depths on single-rooted teeth in vivo.Dental calculus removal often requires the patient to be anesthetized depending on the seriousness of the dental condition. All of the powered instruments took significantly less time than the HAND.

Root roughness was generally slightly greater with all 3 powered tips. The results of this study showed that percent calculus remaining was <5% with all the instruments given time ad libitum on a given root surface. There were no differences in percent calculus remaining, surface roughness, or time spent among the 3 treating clinicians despite their varying experience levels. On a 0 = "smooth" to 3 = "rough" scale, most often HAND resulted in "smooth" surfaces (10/20), the powered tips of all types "slight" surface roughness (10/20 each), and US the most "moderate" roughness (7/20). All powered instruments were significantly faster than HAND (P < 0.05), but did not differ from each other. The mean time in seconds to reach the clinical endpoint ranged from HAND 289 +/- 193, US 194 +/- 67, FINDIAM 167 +/- 71, to MEDDIAM 147 +/- 92. The teeth were then atraumatically extracted, stored in a surfactant, photographed at 10X, and the percent of calculus present in the area of the pocket or on a comparable control surface calculated by histometric point counting. The time taken to reach the therapeutic endpoint of a clean, smooth root surface in a defined region on each tooth with each instrument by the 3 therapists with differing experience levels was recorded. Each patient provided groups of 4 teeth that were randomly treated with either hand curets (HAND) standard smooth ultrasonic tip (US) or fine grit (FINDIAM) or medium grit (MEDDIAM) diamond-coated ultrasonic tips. Single session subgingival scaling and root planing was performed on 80 teeth with 5 to 12 mm probing depths in 15 patients. This study evaluated the speed and effectiveness of subgingival calculus removal with new diamond-coated ultrasonic tips on single-rooted teeth. Several studies have found incomplete calculus removal during periodontal treatment with traditional hand curets, sonic, and ultrasonic instruments.
