What is Teeth Polishing? Book A Teeth Polishing Appointment with KWC Dental in Waterloo Today for a Bright Smile
Teeth polishing is a non-invasive procedure that helps people enjoy a lustrous smile. It can improve your oral health and boost your confidence by giving you smooth and shiny teeth.
About 1 out of 3 Canadians have a dental need such as teeth polishing, scaling, dentures, and more. You may also want to get this procedure to enjoy a better teeth appearance with good health.
This guide will help you understand what does polishing teeth do to help you make an informed decision.
What Is Teeth Polishing?
Teeth polishing is a procedure during which a dental expert will apply a polish paste to your teeth. This will remove contaminants from your teeth and offer them a bright appearance.
It is also an oral prophylactic procedure that can help reduce the chances of dental diseases in the future. So it is a great way to enhance your oral health and make your teeth look shiny.
Who Can Get Teeth Polishing?
Many dentists perform polishing as a routine procedure during dental appointments. However, such use has been reduced to avoid teeth polishing side effects.
Currently, people who specifically want to get their teeth polished must book an appointment with their dentist in Ontario. Here are some groups who usually benefit from teeth polishing.
1. People With Extrinsic Teeth Stains
Teeth stains can make people insecure about their appearance. You may be afraid of smiling at people because of a stain on your front teeth. Whatever the case, teeth polishing can help you get rid of such discoloration.
However, keep in mind the procedure is only beneficial for external stains caused by:
Smoking
Chewing betel quid
Coffee or tea
Red wine
Bacteria
These things may cause black, brown, or orange stains. Teeth polishing is effective for removing such stains through specific agents.
2. Individuals With Dental Plaque
A teeth polishing procedure always involves scaling teeth for plaque removal. Dental experts get rid of decay material from your tooth's surface to offer a clean finish.
The best thing is the procedure is non-invasive and has minimal complications. So if you have dental plaque, you can get it removed safely by polishing your teeth.
What Does Polishing Teeth Do?
Teeth polishing is mainly a cosmetic dental procedure that can also improve oral health. Here is the complete list of what does polishing teeth do:
1. Tartar Removal
Many people know what a plaque is, but they get confused when dentists talk about tartar. Dental plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria that can form on your teeth. This usually happens when you don’t brush or floss regularly.
When this sticky layer hardens on your teeth, a tough substance is formed. This is called tartar. A polishing procedure can effectively remove plaque in its early stages and even after it has hardened to tartar.
By opting for tartar removal through teeth polishing, you can reduce your chances of suffering from dental diseases.
2. Get Rid Of Teeth Stains
When polishing teeth, a dentist uses abrasive agents that scrape off stains from teeth surfaces. They may also use a specific powder under air or pressure to remove tough stains.
Remember that only external stains can be removed by teeth polishing. If you have a stained tooth from birth or after using a specific medicine, you will have to opt for another procedure.
That is because teeth polishing is not effective against internal stains that are beneath your dental crown.
Learn More: https://www.kwcdental.com/blog/what-causes-tooth-discoloration
3. Gives Teeth A Glossy Appearance
The polishing procedure not only removes stains but also enhances the appearance of your teeth. Dentists perform good scrubbing using specific equipment after polish application.
Such scrubbing gives your teeth a glossy appearance to help you enjoy a bright smile after the process. Your teeth will also look whiter and healthier.
Teeth Polishing Paste: The Materials Used
Knowing what does polishing teeth do can help people determine whether their needs can be fulfilled by the procedure. However, the materials used in the procedure should also be a factor in decision-making.
For example, you may decide to get the procedure done but your dentists may inform you that materials used in teeth polishing may not be the best for your teeth type.
Remember that abrasion agents are mainly used in teeth polishing. These materials are effective, but some of them may cause damage to your teeth in the long term.
The most common agents for teeth polishing paste are pumice flour and calcium carbonate. These are particles with small sizes that polish teeth without causing much sensitivity or damage.
Other materials used for teeth polishing paste include:
Feldspar for polishing teeth after dental restoration procedures mainly
Aluminum silicate removes stains while ensuring a good mouth taste
Zirconium silicate is great for prophylactic polishing
These substances are mainly used in the standard prophy paste teeth polishing. If you’re opting for the air powder method, the common materials are water and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
If your diet restricts sodium usage because of hypertension or other issues, aluminum trihydroxide can used as an alternative to sodium bicarbonate.
How Is Teeth Polishing Done?
Teeth polishing is a safe procedure that should not cause you any fear. Let’s walk you through the steps to help you understand the procedure better:
1. Teeth Inspection
A dental expert will always check your teeth to determine the number of teeth that have stains. This inspection will also help them see whether the stain is:
Superficial or deep
Intrinsic or extrinsic
Of course, not every person who opts for teeth polishing has stains. You may just want to get the procedure to remove tartar and enjoy glossy teeth appearance.
Whatever the reason, a dentist will always inspect your teeth to determine the amount of plaque, hardness of the tooth, and more.
The hardness of the teeth to be polished will also help the dental expert choose the pastes for polishing. Every tooth has a different hardness, so a dentist must select materials with less hardness than the tooth.
This means that the same teeth polishing paste material may not be used on all teeth.
2. Scaling
Once the inspection is done, the dentist will start the polishing process by performing teeth scaling. Scaling is a procedure that removes plaque from one's teeth.
Your dentist will scrape off plaque from decayed and weak spots of teeth. They will also remove tartar from your teeth surfaces and crevices to ensure a clean crown on which polish will be applied.
Remember, bacteria usually grow at sites where tartar and plaques build up. This is why scaling enhances dental health by reducing bacterial growth sites in your mouth.
3. Application Of Polish
The last step of polishing teeth is the application of the actual polishing material. This may be a prophy paste if the standard method is used by the dentist.
However, if you have a deep external stain, your dental expert may opt for the air powder polishing method. Here’s what you must know about both:
Prophy Paste
A routine teeth polishing procedure involves the application of a prophy paste on stained teeth. The abrasion agent used in the paste may be pumice flour or calcium carbonate.
Your dentist can choose from a paste that has coarse, fine, or extra-fine particles of the abrasion agent. Typically, fine material is great for removing stains, while maintaining the protective enamel layer of teeth.
The dentist will apply the specific prophy paste and scrub your teeth with a rubber cup. This tool will remove stains from surfaces and crevices.
Once the scrubbing is done, your teeth will look whiter and shinier. The procedure will end with the dentist flossing your teeth and applying a protective fluoride coat to preserve the glossy appearance.
Air Powder Polishing
Some people have tough stains in areas of teeth that are not reachable by the rubber cup tool. That is why air-powder polishing is the standard route for such patients.
Your dentist will use water, sodium bicarbonate, and glycerin under air pressure to remove plaque and stains. This technique is mainly preferred for people with supragingival plaque getting their teeth polished.
The procedure will end in the same way as the prophy paste technique with the dentist flossing your teeth.
Teeth Polishing Vs Teeth Whitening
Teeth polishing and teeth whitening are two different procedures to enjoy whiter teeth. This is why you may be confused about whether to get polishing or whitening.
A teeth whitening procedure involves using a bleaching agent that will get rid of teeth discoloration. It is also effective for removing internal stains caused by development defects, trauma, or other reasons.
Meanwhile, teeth polishing is a routine procedure that gets rid of external stains that are not too deep. Both processes are non-invasive, so they’re highly safe.
However, remember that teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure, so it is not covered by dental insurance. The better option between teeth polishing vs teeth whitening will also depend on your needs and the type of stains you have.
Related: https://www.kwcdental.com/blog/is-teeth-whitening-covered-by-insurance
Teeth Polishing Side Effects
Teeth polishing is a relatively safe procedure, so you will not expect symptoms such as bleeding or inflammation. The only side effects you should expect are a bit of sensitivity and pain after the procedure.
Scaling of teeth usually causes sensitivity to eating hot or cold items. This usually disappears in a few days. You may also experience minimal pain that will subside in one or two days after the polishing.
Rarely, polishing teeth can wear down the protective enamel layer of teeth. This only happens when a dentist uses a coarser abrasion agent in prophy paste. So you can avoid such a side effect by asking your dental expert to use a finer material.
Teeth Polishing At Home: Is It Possible?
Polishing teeth is possible at home with a teeth polishing kit or whitening agents. These materials are advertised as being effective for enhancing teeth colour.
However, you must steer clear of such products. Kits and teeth whitening agents for home use are only as effective as regular toothpaste for enhancing teeth appearance.
These items don't remove plaque or tartar from your teeth. They also don't get rid of stains completely. Some kits and agents may also contain ingredients that cause high tooth sensitivity or damage the enamel layer significantly.
If you want to polish your teeth, the best decision would be to book a dental appointment. A dentist uses safe materials after determining the hardness of your teeth.
So the chances of side effects and teeth damage are little to none, unlike teeth polishing at home.
FAQs
Is Polishing Good For The Teeth?
Polishing teeth is good because it can improve oral health by effective tartar removal. The procedure must be carried out by a dentist in their office for the best results.
How Long Does Teeth Polishing Last?
Teeth polishing usually lasts for six months if you maintain good oral hygiene and alter your diet to avoid things that stain teeth such as tobacco smoking, coffee, and wine.
How Much Does It Cost To Polish Teeth?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers the cost of polishing teeth in the country. If you have this insurance, you can expect the average cost to be $150 in Ontario.
How Long After Tooth Polishing Can I Eat?
Tooth polishing does not affect daily activities much, so you can eat after 30 minutes to 1 hour. This window gives enough time for the fluoride to form a seal around your teeth to protect the polishing.
Book Your Teeth Polishing Appointment Today At KWC Dental
Teeth polishing is an effective oral procedure that can maintain teeth health by removing plaque and tartar. Keep in mind that build-up decay material is the site where bacteria grow.
By getting rid of plaque through teeth polishing, you can reduce bacterial growth in your oral cavity. If you want to get your teeth polishing done in Ontario, book your appointment now with KWC Dental for a smooth experience.