Having your dentist tell you that the plaque and tartar on your teeth need to be scraped off can be a scary experience. The material has to be removed to stop the spread of periodontal disease that can destroy your teeth and gums. The scraping of plaque has traditionally involved using a manual scalper to dig below your gums to scrape the plaque off of the walls of your teeth and roots, but many dentists are starting to use the piezo ultrasonic technique to remove the harmful materials. Here is how a piezo ultrasonic technique works to remove the harmful materials on your teeth.

Piezo Scaling Tips

A piezo scaling tool uses three types of tips to clean your teeth. One tip is rounded and is commonly used to remove stains off of your teeth. The second tip is more pointed than the first tip and is used primarily to clean the plaque and tartar from your teeth at and above the gum line. The third tip is used to clean your teeth below the gums to get the harmful material off the teeth and roots. Each tip is located in its own protective housing.

Piezo Wand

The tips are placed onto an ultrasonic vibrating wand. The wand can produce 25,000 – 45,000 vibrations per second. The vibrations shake the tip of the scaler back and forth in a repetitive motion.

Piezo Scaling Technique

If you are going to have a deep cleaning done, your dentist will probably numb the area being worked before they start. The numbness will reduce the pain and discomfort you might feel. A suction tube is typically placed in the mouth to capture saliva and rinse water to clear out hardened pieces of debris on the teeth that get loosened by the piezo scaler.

The dentist will screw on the tip used to clean the teeth and roots below the gums. The wand is turned on and the tip starts to vibrate back and forth. The dentist will insert the tip down between your gums and teeth. Since the tips move back and forth, the lateral side of the tip will be pressed against the side of the teeth to avoid the tip tapping against your teeth and causing damage. As the lateral side of the tip presses against the harmful materials on your teeth, the vibration breaks them up and forces the material off of the surface of your teeth. The material is then rinsed away with fresh water.

Soreness

You should expect to experience some soreness for at least a couple of days after the procedure. Your dentist will usually have you do warm salt water rinses to clean the gums and take aspirin for any pain and discomfort you may feel.

For more information and answers to specific questions, talk with a dentist or look at this website.