Does A Dental Debridement Hurt?

Are you avoiding getting a dental debridement due to pain concerns? While we understand many people fear visiting the dentist, facts must be distinguished from fiction when it comes to dental treatments. We want to dispel any myths around  dental debridement and answer the oft-asked question, “Is dental debridement painful?”

Regular visits for professional cleanings with your dentist are vital in maintaining good oral health. Additionally, modern equipment and techniques have made dental debridement very comfortable, with only minor discomfort at best— if any at all.

What Is Dental Debridement Treatment?

Dental debridement is a professional deep cleaning method for your teeth typically performed by dentists or dental hygienists. The objective is to remove plaque and tartar build-up on teeth.

At Vela Dental, we use special tools to remove plaque, tartar, and debris from your teeth as part of this procedure. We also use an ultrasonic scaler to loosen hardened deposits stuck to the surface. We finish with a good polish of your teeth using a fluoride polish compound that aids in reducing the sensitivity of your teeth.

Many people assume a dental debridement is a painful procedure, but it’s quite the opposite. Debridements are virtually painless and short. In fact, debridement procedures are more comfortable than ever which can be attributed to better equipment and techniques. If anything the only remotely uncomfortable part is receiving the local analgesic injections you may get before the procedure.

Once your debridement treatment is complete, you should have teeth that are polished smooth, and clean. Some patients do experience minor sensitivity, but it goes away quickly.

Overall, dental debridement is a very efficient and effective treatment for getting teeth clean and clearing out plaque buildup. It is usually contained within your routine dental cleaning appointments but can also be needed if you suffer from gingivitis and other oral health problems.

What You Can Expect During The Procedure

Dental debridement is a process that makes use of various methods and tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. It can be done manually with a special brush, or an ultrasonic scaler as mentioned earlier. An ultrasonic scaler accomplishes removal by using soundwaves at specific frequencies that will break up debris on the enamel surface.

In most debridements, a combination of both methods is used. The initial pass will be with a toothbrush to break up surface plaque. Then, the ultrasonic scaler is brought in to break up caked-on tartar. While the procedure is not painful, some do experience some minor discomfort.

After the tartar has been removed, we polish the teeth to restore a healthy shine and natural texture. Flossing might also be in order if there’s any debris between the teeth.

Most debridements are completed in a single visit to Vela Dental. However, in cases where the situation is more complex, it might mean multiple visits are necessary.

What Are The Advantages Of A Dental Debridement?

Dental debridement is a very beneficial treatment that should be included in your routine oral health care. This treatment has many benefits with the core advantages being:

  • Guards you from unhealthy plaque buildup which can cause numerous other oral health issues.
  • Making it easier for the dentist to perform an oral inspection to check for damage or decay.
  • Preventing further damage to your teeth by removing bacteria and other potentially destructive substances that build up over time.

Is A Debridement Safe?

Yes, it’s absolutely safe! In fact, a dental debridement can be a safer option than a normal cleaning when you have not had a checkup in a long time. Typically, that means you will have a lot more plaque built up than a routine cleaning can handle safely. Routine cleaning appointments are intended for patients with healthy gums and teeth that get regular dental care.

What To Do After Debridement

Although a debridement gets you back to a good base in terms of clean teeth, you need to do some post-treatment care to keep plaque at bay. You’ve got to be vigilant about oral care, otherwise, you can end up with gum disease and a host of other problems.

So, let’s get down to the basics of a good oral hygiene routine to get the most out of that fresh start a debridement gives you!

Brushing Is Fundamental

Brushing your teeth is almost the same as getting a debridement considering brushing is part of the process. Make sure you buy yourself a medium to soft toothbrush or even better, get an ultrasonic toothbrush. They do a much better job of breaking up and removing biofilm and particles from your teeth. The main objective is to stick with medium bristles not necessarily hard ones which can cause gums to bleed.

For toothpaste, you want one that cleans thoroughly but avoid fad pastes with abrasives like charcoal. It’s bad science and will wear down your enamel making it rough. Pitted or rough enamel holds onto biofilm easier which will have you back in our chair for another deep cleaning quick.

As far as technique, you want to come in at a 45° angle upward toward your gum line. Make short passes up and down on one tooth before moving to the next one. Each quadrant of your mouth should receive at least 30 seconds of brushing. Don’t forget chewing surfaces and the backside of your teeth.

Flossing Is Crucial

Even if you brush twice a day religiously, flossing still needs to be a major part of your dental care routine. Flossing is one of the most overlooked parts of oral care.

Flossing helps loosen particles of food that get lodged between your teeth. Those particles can easily resist a good brushing as they can be difficult to remove. However, flossing gets deep in the crevices and dislodges those stubborn particles easily.

Traditional floss usually is made from a thin, wax-covered string that you hold with two hands stretched tautly. There are also floss holders as well as flossing “picks” that have the floss already pulled tight for you.

However, you go about it, just make sure you’re thorough, making sure to go between each tooth. What you’re trying to accomplish with flossing is not only to clean the gaps where teeth touch but also just along the gumlines. Those pockets are where most gunk tends to get trapped and can lead to gingivitis, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Don’t worry, flossing won’t accidentally pull out a tooth or hurt you. However, NOT flossing can be very detrimental to your teeth. If you are uncomfortable with string floss, there is another way to floss.

Water Flossers

If you find traditional floss too tedious or difficult, a water flosser might be your avenue. They’re a little messy when you first learn them, but you adjust quickly. They use light bursts of pressurized water and do a fantastic job in half the time. In our opinion, these devices are the next best thing to having a dentist use an ultrasonic water flosser.

Book Your Dental Debridement Today

Get the clean feeling and bright smile that comes with a debridement at Vela Dental Center. It will give you the reset you need to keep your smile healthy and polished. Contact us today to book!

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