This Is Why Your Dentist Doesn't Scrape Your Teeth Anymore

For many people, having their teeth scraped in the dentist's office is an unpleasant memory and experience to have. Scraping can feel and sound unpleasant, especially if you have built-up tartar that the tool can get stuck on. However, it might surprise you to go to a dentist's office and not have this process done. Does it mean that your teeth aren't getting thoroughly cleaned? On the contrary. Here's why you don't have to worry about your pearly whites.

What it Is

The scraping process actually has an official name; it's called scaling. Scaling is the process of scraping away plaque and tartar that's stuck to the surface of your teeth and under the gumline. While sometimes unpleasant, it was traditionally the only way the dentist had of removing stubborn tartar, as it can't be removed by a dentist's polishing brush any more than it can be gotten rid of by brushing your teeth at home.

Why It's Not Used Anymore

Many dentist's offices have gotten rid of their scaling tools entirely, or at the very least, very rarely use them. This is because technology has evolved, and something better has come along.

Ultrasonic scalers are now used in place of traditional scalers in most dental offices. The reason why you might not even realize that this technology exists, however, is because it's inconspicuous and combined with another part of the cleaning process.

What to Expect Instead

So, if you don't need to worry about a traditional scaler, what should you expect from this ultrasonic scaler? This tool comes with a pain-free experience.

If you've already had a dental treatment that was seemingly free of scaling, then chances are you've already met an ultrasonic scaler and just don't know it yet. When your dentist rinses your teeth, that's actually when they're using the scaler.

The ultrasonic scaler and the water spray are integrated into one device. The ultrasonic scaler, as the name indicates, uses ultrasonic waves to break down built-up tartar. The water then rinses and blasts it away. This means that two processes are completed at the same time, and you get clean teeth without any pain. Best of all, this usually eliminates the need for a scaler to be used under the gumline, as an ultrasonic scaler can break down tartar that's developed under the gums, too.

Ultrasonic scaling is just one recent advantage of newer dental technology. If you've been hesitating to see a dentist, don't put it off any longer. To learn more, contact a dental office like Milner Dentistry today.