Dental calculus is the deposition of a dense yellowish–brown plaque on the roots and neck of the teeth. It is manifested by bad breath, bleeding gums. It is a visible cosmetic defect. Promotes the development of pathological processes in the oral cavity and is a common cause of caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, loosening and subsequent tooth loss. In addition, the deposition of dental calculus is the focus of the spread of infection to other organs (respiratory and cardiovascular systems).
Meaning
Dental calculus (tartar) is a solid mass on the surface of the teeth, which is formed from plaque, food residues under the influence of saliva active substances and due to the vital activity of microorganisms in the oral cavity. In the absence of regular professional oral hygiene, calculus is formed over time even in people who follow all the rules of brushing their teeth.
Causes
According to WHO, dental calculus is found in 80% of the adult population. The basis for dental calculus is plaque, mucus, microorganisms and exfoliated epithelial cells. Over time, the plaque hardens and acquires a dark color due to the content of iron and calcium salts in it, the dark color of the plaque is also given by dyes in food.
Dental calculus primarily appears in places that are hard to reach for brushing teeth, in places where microorganisms accumulate and in places that do not self-clean during chewing. The period of formation of dental calculus is from 4 to 6 months, after which a few more months pass to the maximum level of its spread. The level of dental calculus spread depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Recently, tartar has become more often diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. This is due to improper oral hygiene, errors in nutrition and the problem of child smoking. With age, the amount of dental calculus only increases.
Causes
Everyone is susceptible to the appearance of dental calculus, but the main reasons for its excessive formation in compliance with oral hygiene are violations of salt metabolism and untimely change of toothbrushes. Toothbrushes that are too soft are also not able to clean out all the plaque. Poor-quality toothpastes, chewing food mainly on one side due to injuries or due to defects in the dentition are predisposing factors for the formation of tartar.
If soft food prevails in a person’s diet for a long time, then the natural cleansing of teeth during chewing is disrupted, which contributes to the accumulation of plaque.
At first, dental calculus appears on the necks of the teeth, but eventually passes to the crown and root of the tooth. In the absence of proper care, tartar is formed not only on the teeth, but also on dentures.
Hypersalivation, changes in the composition of saliva, metabolic disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract contribute to the appearance of dental calculus.
Long-term use of antibacterial drugs, smoking and individual features of the dentition, such as the wrong location of the teeth and an insufficiently smooth surface, predispose to the appearance of dental calculus.
Symptoms
First, a dark-colored rim is formed around the neck of the tooth, most noticeable from the inside of the dentition. Next, the dental calculus passes to the crown of the tooth and to the outer surface of the teeth. There is bleeding gums and bad breath. In addition to the aesthetic problem, dental calculus leads to damage to the gingival papillae.
Tartar can be supra-gingival and subgingival. Supra-gingival dental calculus is noticeable during examination and to the patient himself, it is an aesthetic problem, since the appearance of a person suffers. It has a yellowish or brown color and a firm consistency.
The subgingival dental calculus is very hard and dense, has a greenish-black or dark brown color. The subgingival dental calculus fits snugly to the surface of the root of the teeth and is visible only to the dentist during instrumental examination.
Gingivitis is a common complication of tartar, in addition, a favorable environment is created for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora, periodontitis and caries develop.
Treatment
Treatment of tartar consists in its regular removal. This procedure is recommended to be carried out 1-2 times a year. First, the dentist removes tartar and plaque, then grinds and polishes the surface of the teeth.
Removal of tartar using hooks is not used today, due to the painfulness of the procedure and its low efficiency. The most effective removal of tartar during ultrasonic brushing of teeth. Ultrasound vibrations are generated during the procedure, so the tooth surface is cleaned without microtrauma. The effect is achieved both because the nozzle touches the tooth surface, and due to the effect of cavitation – a strong turbulence of the liquid. Due to the effect of cavitation during the procedure to remove plaque and medium-density stone, there is no need to touch the surface of the tooth. Even if the tartar is very dense, then touching the nozzle is enough to remove it.
During cavitation, oxygen is released from the water, due to which the treated area is disinfected. Thanks to oxygen, mechanical purification is faster and easier. When removing tartar with a high density, it is pre-softened with special preparations. In this case, the removal of tartar is painless without injury to the gums and tooth enamel.
At the stage of polishing and grinding, special pastes are applied to the surface of the teeth, which are safe for the gums and oral mucosa. The procedure for removing tartar is painless, but it causes discomfort to many patients, so it is recommended to perform it with anesthesia.
A few days after the procedure, it is necessary to refrain from eating food containing dyes. And in the future, in order to carry out this procedure less often, it is recommended to pay more attention to oral hygiene, use high-quality toothpastes and brushes.
Literature
- Keyes P.H., Rams T.E. Dental Calculus Arrest of Dental Caries // J Oral Biol (Northborough). — 2016; 3 (1): 4.link
- Gupta S., Jain P.K., Kumra M., Rehani S., et al. Bacterial Viability within Dental Calculus: An Untrodden, Inquisitive Clinico-Patho- Microbiological Research // J Clin Diagn Res. — 2016; 10 (7): ZC71-ZC75.link
- Söder B., Meurman J.H., Söder P.O . Dental calculus is associated with death from heart infarction // Biomed Res Int. — 2014.link
- Archana V. Calculus detection technologies: where do we stand now? // J Med Life. — 2014; 7 (2): 18-23.link
- Albandar JM, Kingman A. Gingival recession, gingival bleeding, and dental calculus in adults 30 years of age and older in the United States, 1988-1994 // J Periodontol. — 1999 Jan; 70 (1): 30-43.link
