Removal of tartar and plaque during professional dental cleanings can make teeth feel looser—but don’t skip them. Skipping cleanings lets tartar buildup progress, leading to gum disease, loose teeth, and even tooth loss.
At Nanaimo Smiles, dental health education is an important piece of the work we do in the Nanaimo community. One of the dental concerns our senior patients often describe is the feeling of tartar holding their teeth together. While it may feel that way, tartar is actually hiding a bigger issue: bone loss and gum damage.
As your trusted Nanaimo dental clinic, that tartar buildup can be managed with professional cleanings at Nanaimo Smiles. Here’s what you need to know about tartar, what happens when it’s removed, and how treatments like dental implants can help restore your smile.
What is a calculus bridge?
When tartar, also known as calculus, builds up on your teeth, it can form a thick layer of hardened plaque that can make your teeth feel more stable than they actually are. This is what’s known as a calculus bridge. Plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that naturally forms on your teeth, hardens into tartar or calculus. That tartar then creates the illusion that your teeth are securely in place when, in reality, it’s often a sign that bone loss is occurring beneath the surface.
At Nanaimo Smiles, our team of dental professionals understand and can address this hidden issue. Tartar may appear to stabilize your teeth, but it can actually contribute to serious oral health issues like gum recession and bone loss. If tartar isn’t addressed with regular professional dental cleanings at Nanaimo Smiles, it can lead to infections and the eventual loss of teeth.
Does plaque hold teeth in place?
Patients at Nanaimo Smiles often ask why it feels like plaque is actually holding their teeth in place, but that feeling is an illusion. It’s understandable to feel this way, especially if tartar has been present for some time. Tartar acts like a blanket that locks your teeth together, making them feel firmer. But tartar can only cover up the underlying issue for so long before bone loss and gum disease begin to cause more significant damage.
When you come into our Nanaimo dental clinic for a professional cleaning, we’ll safely remove the plaque and tartar buildup. This will reveal the true condition of your teeth and gums, which might be more fragile than they seemed. While it might feel unsettling at first (your teeth might even feel looser) that’s because the tartar was artificially holding them in place. If your teeth feel loose, that isn’t because your dental health is worse off. What you’re experiencing is your teeth adjusting to their true state, which is a key part of the healing process.
What happens if plaque buildup is left untreated?
Plaque buildup is normal, but when it’s not removed regularly, it can turn into tartar, which is much harder to get rid of. Plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease and bone loss if left untreated, which is why it’s so important to stay on top of oral hygiene and seek professional cleaning in Nanaimo when necessary.
If plaque isn’t removed, it will eventually lead to a breakdown of the bone that supports your teeth. This process is often accelerated in seniors, which can lead to loose teeth, gum disease, and, in the worst case, tooth loss. Nanaimo Smiles encourages patients to come in regularly for professional cleanings to prevent plaque buildup and tartar formation. Keeping up with cleanings can save you from more extensive, expensive treatments down the road.
How is plaque buildup removed?
During your dental appointment, your Nanaimo Smiles dentist will begin by examining your teeth and gums to assess the extent of plaque and tartar buildup. Then comes scaling, which is the mechanical removal of plaque and tartar, done using state-of-the-art ultrasonic technology. Unlike traditional uncomfortable scraping methods, the majority of scaling at Nanaimo Smiles is done using an ultrasonic scaler, an advanced technology dental device that uses high-frequency vibrations and a gentle stream of water to break up and wash away tartar, making the process faster, cleaner, and more comfortable.
In more advanced cases of plaque buildup, tartar can form below the gum line, making it more difficult to remove with a standard cleaning. This is especially common in patients who haven’t had regular cleanings for some time. In these cases, your Nanaimo dentist may recommend root planing and scaling as part of a deeper cleaning procedure. Root planing involves cleaning the surfaces of the tooth roots beneath the gum line to remove plaque and tartar that have accumulated in hard-to-reach areas. This process helps to smooth the roots of your teeth, preventing further buildup and promoting healthier gums.
After scaling and root-planing, the next step is polishing. Your dentist will use a gentle, rotating brush and a special paste to polish the surface of your teeth. This process helps to smooth out any rough spots where plaque and tartar may have accumulated and makes it harder for new plaque to build up in the future. Polishing will also leave your teeth feeling smooth and clean.
What can I expect after plaque removal?
It’s common for our patients at Nanaimo Smiles to feel uncertain about what will happen after tartar and plaque are removed. After a professional cleaning at our Nanaimo dental clinic, while for most patients there are no significant side effects, for some patients your teeth may feel a little sensitive or even a bit loose. This is a normal reaction to the removal of tartar that was previously keeping your teeth in place. It’s important to remember that tartar doesn’t actually hold your teeth together—it’s really just hiding the underlying condition of your gums and bones.
Once tartar is removed, your teeth and gums can heal and improve. Some patients notice their teeth feeling more exposed, or a little less stable. However, this doesn’t mean that the treatment has made your teeth worse. In fact, it’s a sign that your Nanaimo dentist has revealed the true condition of your teeth and gums. Your teeth may feel sensitive at first, but this will likely improve as your gums heal and your overall oral health improves.
How can dental implants can help in advanced cases?
If tartar buildup has caused significant bone loss or gum damage, dental implants may be an excellent solution. Implants are a long-term, permanent solution for replacing missing or severely damaged teeth. However, it’s important to address plaque, tartar, and gum health before considering dental implants as implants need healthy bone and gums to be successful.
At Nanaimo Smiles, our dentists and dental hygienists carefully evaluate each patient’s oral health to determine if dental implants are the right choice. Once plaque and tartar buildup are removed, we can assess whether there is enough healthy bone to support the implants. If not, additional treatments like bone grafting may be needed to ensure a successful implant procedure. Dental implants not only restore your smile but also help to preserve the bone structure in your mouth.
Plaque and Tartar Removal in Nanaimo, BC
If your teeth feel loose after your Nanaimo Smiles dental cleaning, don’t hesitate to talk to your dentist. We believe education is a key part of the oral healthcare we provide.
From professional cleanings to more complex dental procedures, our dental team will make sure you’re comfortable and fully informed about your options. If you have any questions about plaque or tartar removal in Nanaimo, please don’t hesitate to contact us.