Prophylaxis is the basis for the health of your teeth and mouth. With our help and the practice of oral hygiene at home, you can provide the best conditions for maintaining healthy teeth. Your responsible contribution is essential since the prophylaxis team and the patient can only achieve their aim when working together.
Dental plaque and calculus are the first cause for teeth and periodontal apparatus diseases (gingivitis and parodontitis). Plaque is composed of food particles, dried saliva, bacteria and cell rests which develop a permanent film on the tooth surface within a few hours. This firm invisible film provides a nutrient medium for bacteria
.If the plaque hardens, due to the mineral compounds of the saliva, calculus may develop within a few days.
Tooth decay easily occurs on a surface which is difficult to clean, e.g. in between the teeth, above and below the gum line, and in the fissures and pits on the chewing surfaces.
If this bacteria-rich plaque is left on the tooth surface for a long period of time, the bacteria produce acids as a result of the metabolisation of the sugars contained in food. These acids decalcify the enamel which is known as tooth demineralisation. These enamel damages allow the bacteria to progress into the tooth, which leads to the development of holes.
The bacteria contained in plaque and calculus may also produce toxins which cause gum inflammation known as gingivitis and parodontitis. If plaque and calculus are not regularly removed, they may create wedge-like spaces between the tooth root and the surrounding gum, and cause gum pockets and/or bone resorption (parodontitis).
To prevent all of these diseases, we recommend a at least bi-annual visit to the dentist for a dental cleaning. A combination of thorough oral care at home and regular dental check-ups can help you keep your mouth healthy. For a professional dental cleaning, various methods and tools can be used:
Dental Cleaning Steps
1. Tinting the teeth to detect the spots which are hardly accessible during brushing and determine the individual plaque quantity (approximate plaque index)
2. Detecting the individual tendency for bleeding gums (sulcus bleeding index)
3. Removing calculus using the ultrasonic instrument
4. Deep scaling, which removes calculus under the gumline using the ultrasonic instrument or scraping tools (abrasors)
5.
Air-Flow® removes stains caused by cigarettes, tea and coffee
6. Cleaning the interdental space with dental floss or interdental brushes
7. Final polishing using brushes, cups and polishing strips
8.
Fluoridating and sealing of the tooth surface