How to Get a Great Smile

Posted on: 21 June 2022

If you have been talking to your dentist about booking a teeth whitening treatment, they may have asked you to have a scale and clean session first. Why is this kind of deep clean important at this stage?

Create the Right Surface Conditions

Even if you take care of your teeth, they might have some plaque or tartar on them. You might have some stubborn food particles stuck in between your teeth. Plus, you might have some minor stains on your teeth that you hadn't noticed before.

If you don't clean your teeth at this stage, then particles, plaque, tartar and stains can affect how your whitening treatment works. For example, if something covers part of a tooth, then you might end up with blotchy results, which means parts of your teeth will look whiter than others.

This most often happens if you try to whiten yellow tartar deposits or stains. Tartar is a different colour to your teeth, and whitening treatments won't cover all stains.

So, if you have a scale and clean session done first, then you create a more even and cleaner surface. You're more likely to see consistent whitening across all your teeth.

Check for Tooth Damage

Your dentist won't want to whiten your teeth if you have some tooth or gum damage. They would rather fix the problem first. This also ensures that your whitening works more effectively. Dealing with problems after your treatment could affect the colour of your teeth in the future.

Once you've had a scale and clean session, your dentist can take a good look at all your teeth. As well as looking for signs of damage, they can also check any old restoration work, such as fillings, to assess how the whitening treatment will work on those areas. They can then plan and deliver a more effective treatment.

See the Real Colour of Your Teeth

The colour of your teeth at the moment might not actually be their true colour. Your teeth might have some tartar and staining discolouration. This discolouration can hide the underlying colour of your teeth.

If you have a scale and clean session, then you remove anything from your teeth that might hide their true colour. In some cases, this kind of deep clean can actually make your teeth look white enough to make you decide that you don't need the whitening treatment right now.

Even if you decide to go ahead with a whitening treatment right away, a scale and clean session helps you and your dentist choose the right shade of whiteness for your teeth. Once you can see your natural colour, it's easier to map out the most effective treatment plan.

To find out more, contact a local dentist. They can discuss general dentistry services, such as whitening treatments.