Professional oral hygiene

General Information

Our mouth is the first part of the digestive system. It consists of the oral cavity and the organs of the mouth (teeth, tongue, gums, and salivary glands). A tooth, like the eye and the nose, is a living organ. Inside the tooth is a nerve (pulp). A network of blood vessels surrounds the tooth. In addition, the mouth is home to bacteria, with up to 1,000 different species present. The oral cavity is an open system where bacteria multiply or are removed, for example, through proper tooth brushing. The bacteria in our mouths cause two main oral and gum diseases: dental caries and periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease, which causes the following symptoms: bad breath, bleeding and swollen gums, receding gums, tooth sensitivity, pain, and tooth loss. All of these symptoms are caused by bacteria, dental plaque, and tartar, which we cannot remove at home without the help of a specialist.

Dental calculus may be located above the gum line—clearly visible during a visual examination. Dental calculus located below the gum line is detected by probing with a periodontal probe and using magnifying optics.

The essence, purpose, and method of the procedure

Professional oral hygiene involves the removal of tartar and plaque. This procedure is performed prior to any planned dental treatment or procedure. The goal of the procedure is to remove soft and hard dental plaque and to restore and maintain gum health.

During a professional oral hygiene session, the patient is educated on the importance of personal oral hygiene, appropriate tools are selected and the patient is taught how to use them correctly, a periodontal examination is performed, periodontal pockets are measured, tartar above and below the gumline is removed, the surfaces of the tooth roots are smoothed, and pigmented plaque is removed and the teeth are polished. An ultrasonic scaler and manual periodontal instruments are used during the procedure. The gum pockets are rinsed with an antiseptic solution. Professional oral hygiene is performed using magnifying optics.

Oral hygiene performed with the aid of magnifying equipment allows the hygienist to see much better than with the naked eye, to be more precise, and to remove debris from areas that would not be visible during a standard oral hygiene procedure. When working with magnification, the image is magnified many times over: tartar beneath the gums, plaque covering the tooth surfaces. All of this means that much better oral hygiene results are achieved, and the amount of plaque left behind is reduced to a minimum.

Risks if the procedure is abandoned

If tartar is present, professional dental cleaning is necessary; there are no alternative procedures or methods for removing tartar. Without this procedure, microbial deposits continue to accumulate on the teeth and beneath the gums, which over time leads to chronic gum inflammation; the gums become red, swollen, and bleed, resulting in bad breath, the formation of pathological pockets, bone loss, gum recession, and tooth mobility, which can lead to tooth loss in the future.

Recommendations and precautions after the procedure

Bleeding may occur for about 30 minutes after the procedure; saliva may appear reddish for the first day due to minor bleeding. It is recommended not to eat for about 1 hour after the procedure. If anesthesia was administered during the procedure, we recommend not eating until the numbness wears off to avoid biting your lip or tongue. After teeth polishing with baking soda or polishing paste, we recommend avoiding pigmented foods (coffee, tea, red wine, beets, etc.) for at least 24 hours on the first day, as well as refraining from smoking. If fluoride applications were performed, you should avoid dairy products for 24 hours. After professional oral hygiene treatment, you may occasionally experience mild discomfort, which will subside on its own over time. It is essential to follow all individual oral hygiene instructions provided by the dental hygienist.

General Information

The Icon system for treating infiltrative caries was developed by DMG Dental (Germany). This minimally invasive treatment procedure is used to halt the spread of and remove interproximal caries and “white, yellow, and brown spots.” The essence of the procedure is to destroy the foci of caries in the early stages by filling and strengthening the enamel with a special Icon resin, giving the teeth an even color. The “Icon” system is effective when early-stage caries has affected the enamel and the first third of the dentin. Deeper dentin damage is treated by drilling and filling, which can only be determined by a dentist during a consultation. When using the Icon system, we do not drill the teeth, so the tooth tissues remain healthy. Until now, white, brown, or yellowish spots—whether isolated or covering a larger area of the tooth surface—were drilled and covered with aesthetic fillings to achieve an even tooth color. Drilling and filling always cause some damage to healthy tooth tissue, but with “Icon,” we avoid this.

Causes of white spots

White spots on the enamel can result from various causes, such as fluorosis, dental trauma sustained during childhood, or genetic factors; however, they are most commonly caused by superficial caries resulting from inadequate oral hygiene. Tooth decay is the breakdown of tooth structure caused by various microorganisms interacting with carbohydrates. Superficial dental caries is also known as enamel demineralization and manifests specifically as a white spot on the tooth surface that cannot be removed by other preventive measures.

Why We Recommend Icon Treatment

This is a minimally invasive treatment that causes no pain or sensitivity, without drilling or filling the teeth, so the tooth’s tissues remain healthy. If the early stages of caries are detected in time, the tooth can be saved and further progression prevented. With the Icon system, the damaged enamel is impregnated with a special infiltrant that hermetically seals the damage to the tooth tissue and protects the tooth from external damage. The Icon system strengthens the affected area and acts as a barrier protecting the tooth from the effects of acids; significantly less bacterial plaque accumulates on the treated tooth. Treatment with this system is completely painless; the patient feels no discomfort. After removing the stains, the teeth look more aesthetically pleasing. Only special materials that do not irritate or damage tooth tissue are used during the procedure. It has been scientifically proven that Icon treatment is up to 89% more effective than conventional fluoride therapies. The treatment is performed on both children and adults, as well as after orthodontic treatment.