Does tartar removal hurt?
In short
In most cases, tartar removal does not hurt: what you mainly feel is vibration, the water spray and some discomfort in the most sensitive spots. It can be more uncomfortable if your gums are very inflamed or your roots are exposed; in these cases local anaesthetic can be used.
What do you feel during the session?
Tartar removal, also called scaling, is mainly done with an ultrasonic instrument: a fine tip vibrates and breaks up the deposits, while a fine water spray cools the area and washes away the debris. In the trickiest spots, the work is finished with small hand instruments called curettes.
What you usually notice is a humming sound, a slight vibration and the feeling of the water. The session generally lasts between 45 and 60 minutes and finishes with polishing of the teeth.
Is a dental cleaning painful?
For most people, no. It can be more uncomfortable in some situations:
- inflamed gums, which are more sensitive and bleed easily;
- a lot of tartar build-up, especially below the gumline;
- exposed roots or teeth that are already sensitive to cold;
- a long time since your last cleaning.
Ultrasonic instruments allow the power to be adjusted to the sensitivity of each area. And you can always ask for a break during the session: just raise your hand.
Does scaling hurt?
Real pain is rare during routine scaling. When a deeper clean below the gumline is needed, as in the treatment of gum disease, the dentist may suggest local anaesthetic so that the work can be done in comfort. If you are particularly anxious or have sensitive teeth, say so before starting: the treatment can be adapted.
In the following days you may notice mild sensitivity to hot and cold or slightly sore gums. This is usually short-lived and eases as the inflammation goes down.
The more regular it is, the less uncomfortable it is
Paradoxically, people who put off cleaning out of fear are more likely to feel discomfort: more tartar and more inflammation make the session more demanding. With regular recall appointments there are fewer deposits and the cleaning is quicker.
You can read about how a professional dental hygiene session works at our clinic and which ultrasonic instrument we use to make cleaning more comfortable.
If fear of pain is making you put it off, book an assessment visit at Via Cesare Pavese 135, Rome EUR: you can talk it through with the dentist before starting any treatment.
