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What Is Dental Scaling (Detartrage)?
Dental calculus, which has become a common concern for many people today, can be removed through treatments and care performed by professional dentists. With proper information and regular check-ups, it is possible to eliminate dental calculus problems. In this article, we will examine the causes of dental calculus formation, treatment methods, and important points to consider.
Why Does Dental Calculus Form?
Dental calculus forms when bacterial plaque accumulating on the teeth hardens through interaction with minerals in saliva. If tartar is not removed, it can lead to gum inflammation. The first sign of this inflammation is gum bleeding. One of the main causes of bad breath is also this inflammation and bleeding.
What Happens If Dental Calculus Is Not Removed? What Is Curettage?
If dental calculus is not cleaned regularly, it continues to progress deeper into the gums and begins to damage the tissues supporting the tooth. In this case, gum inflammation advances toward the tooth root. While healthy gum tissue is normally attached to the tooth, the tartar accumulated on the root surface causes the gums to separate from the tooth, creating spaces known as pockets around the teeth. These pockets can reach depths of 3–5 mm. To clean these areas, a curettage procedure is required. Under local anesthesia, the root surfaces and inflamed gum tissue inside the pocket are cleaned, allowing the gums to reattach to the root surface.
Does Dental Cleaning (Scaling) Damage the Teeth?
Dental cleaning (scaling) is not a procedure that damages the teeth. The real harm comes from dental calculus itself — if not removed, it can cause gum diseases that may eventually lead to tooth loss. The process begins with gum recession and continues with bone resorption. In areas where the gum and bone have receded, tartar formation continues. Curettage is required to treat these areas.
Having regular dental check-ups and scaling before any tissue loss occurs is the easiest and most effective way to maintain oral health.
Preventing tartar buildup is only possible with proper oral hygiene. In addition to brushing, cleaning between the teeth (using dental floss or interdental brushes) prevents both tartar formation and cavities.
All the foods and drinks we consume leave various residues on our teeth. Over time, these residues harden on the tooth surface and form a layer. The area where the tooth meets the gum (the soft tissue) is where this layer is most dense and hardest.
The residues that accumulate between the tooth and the gum gradually harden and result in calcified, stone-like formations. Dental calculus can cause gum recession depending on the oral structure, and if not removed, advanced gum recession may occur.
Tartar can significantly affect gum health, and in cases of gum recession, it may even fill the spaces between teeth. In such situations, the patient might not even be aware of the tartar buildup or the underlying gum disease. Regular dental visits and check-ups are crucial to prevent problems caused by dental calculus.
Curettage is one of the methods used in the treatment of gum diseases. It is applied to remove inflammation that may occur in the gums due to dental calculus (tartar). While antibiotics are recommended to treat inflammations in other parts of the body, they are not sufficient for treating gum inflammation.
In this treatment, which begins with the separation of the gum from the tooth, not only the gum but also the area down to the tooth roots can be cleaned. Curettage, considered a deep cleaning procedure, is necessary to prevent potential problems on the surface of the tooth roots.
Recently, rumors have been circulating that dental scaling is dangerous, but these claims have no scientific basis. On the contrary, failing to remove dental calculus can lead to more serious problems.
The method applied to remove tartar, known as detertrage, is very important for dental health. This treatment, which should be performed every six months, is usually painless and bloodless. However, if tartar accumulation is advanced, more intensive treatments may be necessary. The duration of the treatment depends on the patient’s condition.
There are also methods to fill gaps that may form after tartar removal. However, these cosmetic procedures are applied by a specialist according to the patient’s individual condition.
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