What tool do dentists use to remove stains? (2023)

How do you remove stains from teeth?

Brushing your teeth twice a day with a tooth whitening paste that includes fluoride can help remove food debris and plaque, as well as surface stains. Ingredients can include peroxides and baking soda, with baking soda being the desirable abrasive for stain removal.

Your hygienist uses specific tools to scrape away these deposits, either hand tools – the scrapers and picks you're likely familiar with – or, if needed, an electronic device called an ultrasonic scaler for deeper stains or discolorations.

A sickle probe is used to locate any cavities and other oral issues, while a periodontal probe is used to measure the periodontal pockets and identify any problems, such as gum recession.

If discoloration is caused by tartar or medical conditions, a person may need to visit a dentist. A dentist or dental hygienist will use instruments to scrape, blast, or rub tartar and plaque away from teeth. A dentist may also perform minor procedures to whiten the teeth and protect them from further decay.

Intrinsic Stains

Eventually, they reach the dentin. Unfortunately, removing teeth stains in the dentin is much harder. If you're looking for how to remove deep stains from the teeth, at-home solutions won't work. You'll need professional teeth whitening treatment.

A professional has the instruments that allow them to blast, rub, or scrape plaque, tartar, or any other stains between teeth away. Also, your Hornsby dentist can perform any minor procedures (such as bleaching or applying topical fluoride) required to whiten and protect your teeth from further decay.

Intrinsic tooth stains are more difficult to remove then extrinsic stains, but they can be treated. Intrinsic stains typically require either in-office whitening solutions provided by your dentist or by using some at home whitening products such as tray based products or whitening strips.

Professional-Grade Teeth Whitening – Teeth bleaching systems available from dentists are usually much more powerful than those found in drugstores and supermarkets. As a result, they can be significantly more effective at removing yellow stains and achieving a brighter, whiter smile.

Does ultrasonic scaling remove stains?

The ultrasonic scaler can rapidly remove tough stains and tartar, meaning less time for the patient in the chair, and less fatigue for the clinician. In fact, the tool's tip moves so quickly that it must be cooled by a constant stream of liquid, a process called lavage.

Scaling and polishing is a procedure that removes dental plaque, tartar and extrinsic stains that are present on the outer surface of the teeth.

Scaling and polishing are used when the underlying reason for discolouration or darkness of teeth is extrinsic (surface staining), this can be remedied by simple scaling and polishing by a dental professional, during which the extrinsic stains can be removed (stain removal).

What does a deep cleaning entail? In scaling, your periodontist will use a hand-held dental scaler to manually scrape the plaque from your teeth above and below your gum line. They may also use an ultrasonic tool with a vibrating metal tip, plus a water spray to wash tartar away.

While the dental drill, sometimes known as a dental handpiece, is used to drill holes (preparing teeth for fillings), it is also used for removing decay, polishing fillings, performing cosmetic dentistry, and altering prostheses. It truly is one of the most handy dental tools out there (no pun intended).

For example, scraping the brown spots from the teeth should only be done by a dental professional. If not done professionally, the scraping might even cause further damage to the tooth's enamel (and thereby introduce new sites for food debris and bacteria to accumulate).

Intrinsic stains cannot be removed, but they can be covered up with cosmetic options. Extrinsic stains can usually be removed with whitening. Professional whitening may be necessary for some deep, longstanding set-in stains.

Staining of the enamel is not permanent and can be easily reversed with treatments through professional stain removal and tooth whitening. Steer away from home remedies. Often these products are abrasive and can scratch the enamel making them more susceptible to staining - such as whitening toothpastes.

Your dentist will use a treatment called Icon white spot treatment that will completely eliminate patches or marks on the tooth surface. There is no drilling or needles and the treatment is painless and effective in a very high percentage of cases.

Professional whitening is performed in-office by a dentist who uses professional whitening products and procedures to speed the whitening process. Your dentist will apply a hydrogen peroxide solution. Some products may require heat with a special light to accelerate the bleaching process.

What causes brown stains on teeth?

Bacteria-filled plaque is constantly forming on your teeth. When you eat foods containing sugar, bacteria produce acid. If plaque isn't brushed off teeth regularly, the acid breaks down tooth enamel. This results in brown stains and cavities.

The one key tool your dentist uses to remove plaque from your teeth is called a scaler, or a plaque scraper. With it, your dentist can scrape the plaque off the surfaces of your teeth so that it doesn't have a chance to harden into problematic tartar.

Some teeth stains are permanent; they cannot be removed through a bleaching procedure. Your dentist will cosmetically mask these stains by using porcelain veneers or crowns in these cases. Teeth stains can have a significant impact on your smile and facial appearance.

Ultrasonic dental cleaning is not painful, and in fact, you may not even feel the vibrations. However, because they are electronic, they are not recommended for patients who have pacemakers. Ultrasonic scaling tools are also helpful when you are dealing with weakened teeth.

How long an ultrasonic cleaning system takes depends on the system, the part to be cleaned and the contaminants. For light cleaning action of a part with hard surfaces, a few minutes may be enough. Average cleaning times for common ultrasonic cleaning tasks may range from ten to twenty minutes.