The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that all patients visit their family or general dentist every six months. Even the most dedicated brusher and flosser simply cannot remove every bit of plaque and tartar from your teeth.
During this visit, patients undergo a thorough dental cleaning and an in-depth examination of their teeth, gums, and entire mouth.
Regular cleaning by your dentist is the professional supplement to your own oral care practices at home. The following procedures can be expected during a twice-yearly dental examination.
First step: Professional Dental Cleaning
Our process in Starlight for your regular cleaning, using latest technology, can be different from the protocol you was used in the past
CONVENTIONAL PROCESS FOR ORAL HYGIENE VISIT
1- Scaling
Traditionally, “Scaling” refers to the process of manually scraping off with sharp stainless steel instruments (“hand scalers”) the hardened pieces of plaque and tartar that are stuck to your teeth.
2- Stain Removal
Tough Stains like coffee, tea or cigarette stains need to be remove using scalers. This can sometimes be painful.
3- Polishing
Tooth polishing is the act of smoothing the tooth surface. Common practice is to use a prophy cup—a small motorized rubber cup—along with an abrasive polishing compound.
Traditional polishing with rubber cup can remove 4 micrometers of tooth surface during a 30-second prophy past + rubber cup polishing procedure.3,7 With frequent polishings, tooth surfaces may be damaged due to the loss of fluoriderich enamel surface levels. Abrasive pastes may scratch the outer surfaces of materials used for restorations such as composite resin, amalgams, and gold restorations.
Other concerns are bacteremia and damage to the pulp of the teeth due to the heat generated by the friction of the rubber cup.
STARLIGHT UP TO DATE
ORAL HYGIENE VISIT WITH ULTRASONIC & AIR-FLOW
1- Ultrasonic Scaling
Starlight Dental Clinic use Ultrasonic Scaler made from Switzerland with the same tradition of quality than watch maker, thus ensuring your teeth have smooth surface after scaling.
These Ultrasonic scalers from Switzerland using “Piezon No PAIN technology” to thoroughly clean the entire surface of each tooth, to remove calculus/tartar, including the portion below the gum line.
2- Stain Removal & Polishing with Air-Flow
It is a new advanced hygiene cleaning treatment that uses a mixture of air, jet water and sodium bicarbonate/erythritol to remove stains, polish and clean your teeth.
Researchers have determined that there is no disruption of enamel, cementum, and dentin surfaces. Ait Flow polishing is an advanced version of a stain removing and polishing combine into one treatment where you will walk away with a significantly improved tooth brightness, fresher breath and giving you a sparkling fresh healthy mouth in an instant.
We are using the new and exclusive technique of EMS Switzerland with AIR-FLOW powder PLUS. The powder measure only 14 microns ( 6 times smaller than conventional Air Flow powder) for optimal polishing of your teeth.
It can be used supragingivally to remove biofilm, stains and polish the teeth. It can also be applied under your gum to remove biofilm even from the deepest periodontal pockets
Advantages of air polishing compared to traditional polishing with Rubber Cup:
Can remove up to 100% of bacteria and endotoxins
Method of choice for stain and plaque removal
Creates uniformly smooth tooth surfaces
More comfortable for patients
No heat generated
No pressure against teeth
No tooth contact
Stain and dental plaque removed in less than half the time
Can be used on implants
3- Optional Link to Case Situation: Deep Cleaning and Irrigation
When too much tartar has built up under the gum line, our dentist can recommend a deep cleaning if the early signs of gum disease are present
Calculus, biofilm and discoloration have been removed professionally – now your Starlight Dentist can check the condition of your teeth and gums
Second step: Full check up of your mouth.
We use state-of-the-art technology such as an intra-oral camera to take individual images of your mouth and teeth. Our chair based screens allow you to look at these in comfort whilst your dentist explains the details to you. We can even print pictures so that you can take images home with you after your dentist appointment to help you decide what is best for you.
Periodically, we may ask you to have an X-ray examination. The ADA recommends that dentists take X-rays only after consideration of their patients’ individual needs. We should request that you have an X-ray examination only when it will benefit you. X-rays help us find hidden conditions that can threaten your oral or general health. Treating these conditions at an early stage often prevents more serious damage and the need for more expensive treatment later. Starlight Dental Clinics also have a dental OPG machine which allows a very detailed X-ray of your full jaw, should this be required and also a 3D CT scan.
Regular dental checkups are an essential part of any prevention program. If you visit us regularly, any dental problems you have can be treated in their early stages. If you see a dentist only in an emergency, when you already have a serious problem, treatment may be much more costly. In the long run, nothing is more economical than the regular dental checkup.