Hello everyone in the STEM SOCIAL community. Today, I happened to see a patient with chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis is a common disease of the oral cavity consisting of chronic inflammation of the periodontal tissues caused by the accumulation of large amounts of dental plaque.
BEFORE SCALING AND POLISHING
Periodontitis can destroy the bone and supporting structures without treatment. Periodontitis occurs in the oral cavity as a result of not taking care of your teeth and mouth. You can see that there is already hardened plaque on this patient's teeth, which is not healthy. This hardened plaque can cause the teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss. After examining this patient, I recommended that the patient undergo scaling and polishing. Scaling and polishing is a dental procedure that removes tartar, plaque, and stains from your teeth. It is a professional cleaning that can be done by a dentist. The patient agreed, and I proceeded with the scaling and polishing (cleaning).
So guys, the scaling and polishing procedure usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. However, it depends on the plaque and calculus load sometimes, the number of teeth involved, and whether there is an additional treatment.
AFTER SCALING AND POLISHING
Scaling and polishing is not a harmful procedure, and it's done twice a year; that is, a patient is to come for scaling and polishing (cleaning of the teeth) every six months or more often if the patient has a high risk of plaque and calculus buildup. After I finished the scaling and polishing procedure, I gave the patient post-operative instructions (OHIS):
****Post operative instructions
Usually, no day off is required after this procedure.
Do not smoke tobacco because it delays tissue healing.
You can experience tooth sensitivity after scaling and polishing.
You might feel natural gaps between your teeth; this is a result of the teeth that were accumulated by plaque.
You can take a painkiller for any tenderness or discomfort.
Rinse your mouth 3 to 4 times daily with lukewarm salt water, for 3 days.
*Brush twice daily, apply Stillman’s method when brushing to avoid gum recession (tissue pulling away from your teeth).
*Use a soft or medium bristle toothbrush to avoid hurting your gums. Do not use a hard bristle toothbrush.
If you experience persistent pain, don't be scared... just contact your dentist.
Thank you for reading.
