Myths and Facts about Professional tooth cleaning

On an average every other patient who comes in to see a dentist requires some degree of professional tooth cleaning. But from experience we have seen that most patients baulk at the idea. The reason being all kinds of beliefs right from 'my enamel will wear off to loosening of teeth.'

We have one answer for all the non believers.

"We ensure that we undergo scaling and polishing ourselves twice a year every year. If there were so many side effects of scaling - do you really think we would subject ourselves voluntarily ?"

Before and after scaling

So lets take a look at the myths and lets shatter them.

MYTH I: Scaling makes teeth loose

FACT I : SCALING MAY ACTUALLY HELP YOUR TEETH BE MORE STRONGLY HELD BY THE SURROUNDING GUMS AND BONE

Have you undergone an extraction or watched a tooth being removed? It requires considerable amount of leverage and force to pull out a firm tooth. Even a tooth which is relatively loose requires some degree of pressure. So do you really think that ultrasonic scaling, in which the tip is barely touching your teeth for a few seconds at a time, can cause tooth loosening?

So why do teeth feel a little loose after scaling? When tartar(calculus) accumulates around your teeth over time, it causes gum disease which in turn causes bone loss and tooth weakening. However because the tartar is so tightly stuck around your teeth- they feel firm. When we remove the stuff thats holding them together - naturally they will be loose. The tartar made them loose and then held them together ironically. So a lot of patients say - at least its holding them together so why not leave it in? The reason is - the longer the tartar is in your mouth - the disease is continuing to progress. The gum bleeding, bad breath continues. Therefore to stop the disease it is essential to remove the cause.

In fact after the gum heals a couple of weeks later - the teeth may actually feel firmer.

MYTH II:  Scaling make teeth sensitive

FACT II: SCALING MAY ACTUALLY PREVENT TEETH SENSITIVITY IN THE LONG RUN BY PREVENTING GUM RECESSION AND INFLAMMATION

Imagine you are wearing a jacket/shawl in the winter and suddenly you are asked to remove it. Wouldn't it make you cold for a few minutes at least till you adjust to the temperature? It would, wouldn't it? Now imagine your teeth wearing a jacket of tartar for weeks and months and all of a sudden you remove it. Wouldn't it take your teeth a few days at least to adjust to the new temperatures? It doesn't mean they have become sensitive - they just need time to recover.

Of course scaling done by untrained hands/outdated machinery can cause prolonged sensitivity. So choose your dentist well.

MYTH III: Scaling and polishing is a cosmetic procedure

FACT III: SCALING IS NECESSARY FOR GUM HEALTH - THEREFORE IT IS NOT MERELY COSMETIC BUT THERAPEUTIC

The cosmetic aspect of scaling ( the removal of stains to make teeth look whiter) is a pleasant side effect. Actually scaling is important for its therapeutic uses. Scaling is essential for gum health. The removal of local irritants improves gum health, increases tooth support, decreases bad breath and gum bleeding.

MYTH IV: Scaling increases gaps/spaces between teeth

FACT IV: BY PREVENTING BONE LOSS AND GUM DISEASE SCALING MAY PREVENT OPENING UP OF GAPS (caused by weakened periodontium leading to pathologic migration)

Like we said before it is not possible to physically move teeth with a scaler. Moreover enamel cannot be cut with this machine either. Therefore obviously scaling cannot cause spacing. Then why do spaces appear post scaling sometime?The gaps exist from much before - however the teeth being covered by yellowish tooth colored tartar - it appears as if there are no spaces. The moment the disease causing tartar is removed - the spaces reappear. 

MYTH V: If there is no problem/symptom one does not require scaling

FACT V: ALMOST EVERYONE REQUIRES SCALING - AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR

The unfortunate part about gum disease is that it almost never pains. There are very few symptoms (like bleeding gums/pus discharge) and often they are mild enough to be missed completely by the patient. So why wait till the disease is so severe that your teeth begin to shake? Besides what is the harm in going for a regular cleaning once every year - definitely only something better can come out of it. 

So now what do you want to believe? Rumors spread by people who know only half the story or Facts backed by scientific evidence??

Value your smile. It is worth more than most other possessions. 

Write to us for more information at Smile@aryasdentalclinic.com or visit our website http://www.aryasdentalclinic.com

Wisdom and your teeth

Wisdom teeth really have nothing to do with wisdom other than the fact that they erupt in your mouth about the time wisdom is supposed to put in an appearance in your life.i.e.about 18 years

Of course we all know the likelihood of wisdom appearing that early in our lives :) At 18 these days - we are just about ready to begin to make out mistakes...forget about learning how to rectify them or avoid them.

So back to teeth - These so called wisdom teeth - are just like the rest of your teeth. The only thing different is time when they come out of the closet(bone) - 17-25 years as opposed to all the other teeth which have finished appearing by the age of 13-14.

Why do wisdom teeth give so much trouble?

The theory goes that with each passing generation and as part of evolution in response to the kind of food we eat etc - our jaw sizes are reducing. However our teeth have remained unchanged with time. Result - less space in the jaw to accommodate the full complement of teeth.

So what we are left with - is one or two or all four wisdom teeth stuck in the jaw for all eternity. No matter what we try - they are never going to erupt into the mouth - simply because there is ABSOLUTELY no space. Its much like fitting a huge cupboard into a tiny room - it isn't even going to get past the doorway. Sometimes it could be the case of trying to get the cupboard in horizontally instead of vertically. In case of the tooth we cannot rotate it to enter the mouth in the right direction.

So now what?

If it isn't giving you any trouble - and it is not causing any trouble - then the  thing to do is - LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE. If it begins to pain or you are having regular episodes of discomfort - you need to have it checked.

What is the treatment?

First things first - the dentist will probably want to see an x-ray of the tooth. In all probability you may have to take an OPG ( which is basically an xray of all the teeth together)

 If the tooth looks like it can erupt naturally - the dentist will aid in its eruption by cutting the gum tissue which is covering it and preventing it from coming out.

However if the position of the tooth looks as if its not going to ever erupt in a normal position or if the tooth is impinging on the tooth in front of it and damaging it the dentist will ask you to go in for a Disimpaction procedure.

Most people hear extraction surgery and want to jump off their chairs and run miles and never come back. I don't blame them :) It does sound scary.

But the truth is - it no longer is as inconvenient or painful. We won't lie - dental procedures will never really be pleasant. But they aren't torture anymore either.

All that is involved is a tiny injection ( that too with topical anesthetic applied first so as to minimize the pain of the prick of the needle), a little pressure and a couple of stitches.

What can you expect after the surgery?

1. a little swelling ( minimal if you apply ice after the procedure)
2. a little decrease in mouth opening ( for a few days)
3. little or no pain ( because you will be taking painkillers). Very rarely will there be severe pain ( only in cases of dry socket)
4. A WHOLE LOT OF RELIEF THAT THE IRRITATING SILLY TOOTH IS OUT.


Maybe - just maybe - its called a wisdom tooth - because there is a whole lot of wisdom in removing it rather than bearing the pain of having it in your mouth.


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