What is dental tartar?

Dental tartar is formed by the plaque accumulated between the teeth and along the gums, which becomes mineralised by the bacteria from food and drinks and hardens. At first, plaque can be eliminated by proper brushing. If tartar develops, that cannot be eliminated simply by brushing, in this case the patient needs a professional tartar removal. Tartar is deposited the fastest and in greatest degree on superior molar teeth on the side of the cheeks, and on inferior incisors on the side of the tongue.

Risk factors

Inadequate oral care routine Inadequate toothbrush Habits learned wrong Smoking Lack of interdental cleaning (with floss or interdental toothbrush) Diet rich in carbohydrates and soft processed foods Composition of saliva, genetics

Tartar is frequently responsible for bad breath, bleeding gums, gum diseases or discoloured teeth. However, with regular dental check-ups and tartar removal you can maintain your beautiful smile and also prevent gum diseases and bad breath.

Tartar build-up varies individually so it is recommended to repeat the removal process every six months or, if you already have a gum disease, every three months. Many gum diseases can be prevented by regular tartar removal and this helps to preserve your teeth for a lifetime.

After tartar removal

It is important to avoid smoking after the treatment. Teeth can be sensitive for weeks after the treatment, this is part of the natural healing process. The dental hygienist or dentist who performs the tartar removal will give you information regarding the correct cleaning method.

When is recommended?

If you would like to have a fresh white smile, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation, so you can discuss with our professionals the best treatment options for you. The main causes of teeth discoloration are:

• Teeth-staining food and drinks (red wine, curry, tomatoes, beetroot)
• Smoking Tartar
• Tooth decay
• Discoloured dental filling
• Root canal treated tooth

Before teeth whitening it is recommended to have the tartar removed by tooth polishing and to replace the discoloured and deteriorated fillings, because these procedures can make your teeth whiter and more beautiful and you may re-evaluate the need for whitening. In every case before the procedure it is necessary to perform a dental check-up to assess the condition of the teeth and to carry out the required treatments. This step is essential, because the whitening of a carious or damaged tooth can lead to sensitivity or tooth loss.

We recommend professional teeth whitening, performed in a dental office under the supervision of a dentist or a dental hygienist. This is the quickest and safest method of teeth whitening, lasting only for an hour, and after which you can walk away with a brilliant white smile.

It is not recommended to wash your teeth or to consume acidic or staining food or beverages for a few hours after the treatment, because during the procedure the outer layer of the enamel temporarily softens and can be scratched. At the end of the treatment we apply a fluoride gel on the surface of your teeth to accelerate the strengthening of the enamel.

In certain cases, teeth whitening is not recommended. Tooth discoloration may be genetically determined or caused by disease or medication. Sometimes, due to the level of discoloration or the condition of the teeth, the whitening procedure is not possible, in this case your dentist may recommend porcelain veneers or dental crown in order to achieve the best aesthetic results.

Tooth replacement involves the dental prosthetics made for the replacement of one or more lost teeth. There are a wide variety of dental prosthetics, including fixed dental appliances, removable devices and combination of fixed and mobile teeth replacement.

Next to fixed prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges or dental implant dentures, also removable dental plates can be implemented.

We recommend to implement a crown when there is missing a part of a tooth, or when treating a big cavity or a root canal, but can be also used to replace amalgam fillings, to treat a dental trauma or in case of aesthetic problems, such as teeth discoloration or teeth correction.

The most common materials used for dental crowns are porcelain, ceramics and zirconia.

A bridge is composed of a row of dental crowns. We recommend a dental crown when the patient has a significant absence of teeth enclosed by healthy, easily restored or strengthened teeth, both in front and in the back of the gap. The bridge can be fixated on the teeth next to the gap or on implants, in absence of teeth.

In case of bridges that are fixated on teeth, it is necessary to file down the teeth next to the gap and reshape them for abutment. After the initial preparations the prosthetic piece will be manufactured in a few weeks. Your new denture will offer you a perfect aesthetic experience by reproducing the look and function of the natural teeth. In case of total absence of teeth, the bridge can be built on dental implants by inserting 4 to 6 implants in advance, which can be a convenient and fix solution to restore the beauty and function of the teeth. In this case, there is no need to file down the healthy teeth around the gap, moreover the patient can safely chew harder foods also, similarly to his original teeth, thanks to the inserted implants. Besides this, the load of the bone around the gap will be uniform and there will be no risk for bone atrophy.

Whether it is a crown or a bridge, either way the patient leaves the office with teeth. After the necessary preparations, which consist of filing down the teeth, the dentist makes a temporary crown or bridge in the dental office and fixes it to the teeth at the end of the treatment. In case of inflamed gums or multiple tooth extraction, when it is necessary for the wound to heal, a dental technician will manufacture a long-term temporary crown or bridge, so You can enjoy a beautiful a functionally perfect replacement even in the process of healing.

We recommend to You a partially mobile prosthesis, if there aren’t enough teeth for a fixed replacement or if you would like a more wallet-friendly approach. The main purpose of dentures is to restore completely the function and aesthetics of teeth. Even 1 or 2 remaining teeth are able to help to fix and to get used to the new denture.

There are many types of partial dentures, such as removable dentures or combined solutions, that are partially fixed but have removable parts. You are welcome to a personal consultation, during which we recommend the most suitable type of dental replacement for you. A combined partial replacement can contain crowns and a bridge placed on the remaining teeth, so that we can preserve your healthy teeth by making a denture suitable for you in colour and shape.

In case of complete absence of teeth we recommend a denture, which is meant to replace the complete arch of teeth and also the gums. This type of prosthetic, if shaped correctly, is kept in place by suction between the denture base and the palate. The upper side leans against the maxillary crest and the palate, while the lower part leans solely on the mandibular crest.

A removable complete denture of good quality stays fixed, does not move while speaking, it is aesthetic and comfortable. Naturally, it requires time to get used to it, but after a few weeks also the tongue and the facial muscles will help to keep in place the adjusted denture, and You will feel as it is your own set of teeth.

In case of complete absence of teeth, we also recommend a bridge fixated by dental implants, mentioned at the tab of the bridges, or a denture fixated by dental implants, which can be an excellent combined solution. It might be enough to insert 2 to 4 implants, which will fixate the removable part. The biggest advantage of this is stability and convenience. The denture is removable therefore it can be cleaned easily, but the implants ensure a stable attachment.

The dentists in our office can guarantee that all the procedures will be painless and professional.

Our oral surgeon colleague is prepared for a wide range of oral surgery treatments, from a simple tooth extraction or surgical extraction to dental implants, bone grafting or sinus lift surgery.

The insertion of dental implants is one of the most frequent procedures in our dental office. In adequate situations the insertion of the dental implant body is the most reliable and durable method for the treatment of absence of teeth. During the surgical procedure the oral surgeon inserts an implant body into the jaw, which requires a healing period of 4 to 6 months.

After healing, the fixed or removable artificial tooth can be attached. Dental implants are made of titanium, which is a biocompatible substance, easily incorporated in our body, respectively in the bones.

A dental bone graft may be necessary prior or during insertion of implants, if the bone mass is not enough for proper incorporation of the implant and for ossification. The suitable method of surgery and graft material is chosen by the oral surgeon, depending on the severity of the bone defect. Most commonly the patient’s own bone is used as bone chips from the surgical site, combined with synthetic material, in order to achieve the best results. As bone grafting is a surgical procedure, the patient must complete some important requirements before the start of the intervention.

A patient suitable for dental implants and/or bone grafting:

• must have a good general oral hygiene;
• must have an adequate general health;
• cannot have untreated diabetes, is not allowed to consume excessive alcohol, is not allowed to smoke and cannot have severe periodontal.

Sinus lift or sinus augmentation is a vertical bone grafting procedure performed on the upper jawbone, the need and extent of which is determined by the anatomy of the sinus. Course of action after oral surgeries.

For complete healing we recommend the following instructions after the procedures:

• Do not eat and do not rinse the affected area for the time specified by the oral surgeon
• Do not remove the hematoma from the wound surface by rinsing or sucking, because the wound healing might be delayed
• Respect the instructions regarding oral hygiene; clean the surface of the wound with a soft toothbrush, while the other teeth in a normal way
• Avoid eggs, dairy and small seeds for 2-3 days after the surgery
• Avoid straining, bending, sport, sauna, thermal baths
• Do not blow your nose too hard, save the area from physical impact, use a nasal spray if you have a cold
• It is recommended to cool the surgical site and to use a higher pillow
• If the oral surgeon prescribes antibiotics, they must be taken accordingly
• If abundant bleeding, pain or fever occurs, or you experience other unusual sypmtoms after the surgery, call your oral surgeon
• It is not recommended to drive immediately after the surgery
• It is necessary to keep all the instructions given by the oral surgeon

The insertion of dental implants is one of the most frequent procedures in our dental office. In adequate situations the insertion of the dental implant body is the most reliable and durable method for the treatment of absence of teeth. Dental implants are a screw made of titanium, which is inserted by the oral surgeon into the jawbone during a surgery performed with local anaesthesia. A great advantage of titanium is, that there is no known allergy, so it might be a safe alternative for patients with metal allergies.

The insertion requires a healing period of 4 to 6 months. After healing, the fixed or removable artificial tooth can be attached. Thanks to local anaesthesia, the procedure is technically painless, though administration of pain killers might be necessary in the following days. The artificial teeth attached to the implant will serve as your own teeth. You will be able to chew, smile and laugh confidently again.

Steps of the insertion:

• Your dentist will inform you about the steps and the course of implant insertion.
• Local anaesthesia will completely desensitize the area of the surgery.
• Preparing the space for the implants in the bone
• Placing the implants, which were designed in advance based on size and thickness
• After the insertion of the implants, the gums above them are stitched, in order to maintain a sterile area
• After the procedure we give you precise instructions about what you should do after the surgery
• Finalisation after 4-6 months. The ossification of the implant body happens during 4 to 6 months, the artificial tooth can be attached only after that. However, we will make a temporary replacement for the waiting time.

In case of complete absence of teeth, the ALL-ON-4 technique can offer a quick and effective solution. The essence of the procedure is to fixate a whole denture with only four implants. The denture can be made thinner thanks to the fixation on implants, therefore it will be a comfortable, aesthetic and stable prosthesis, which can be easily accepted. In case of more severe bone deficiencies, larger implants cannot be placed, so six implants will be inserted instead of four. This procedure is effective even if there is a severe bone deficiency, according to our experiences.

It is important to know that one or more missing teeth may put more pressure on your healthy teeth and the consequences of this may affect the entire body.

Some risks of untreated tooth loss are the following:

• Migration of the teeth next to the gap and the ones opposing it, which leads to their damage on long term;
• Disorders of the jaw joint may appear in time, which may cause sleeping problems, headache, morning tiredness;
• The bone mass may be damaged or absorbed and this can narrow down the options for tooth replacement later.

In order to have a full recovery from oral surgery, we recommend our patients to follow the instructions below:

• Do not eat and do not suck or rinse the affected area for the period of time specified by the surgeon
• Do not remove the haematoma from the wound surface by rinsing or sucking, because it will delay the healing process
• Follow the instructions of oral hygiene. The affected area must be cleaned with a soft toothbrush, the other teeth can be cleaned as usual.
• Do not eat egg, dairy or small seeds for 2-3 days after the surgery • Avoid physical effort, bending, sport, sauna, thermal baths
• Do not blow hard your nose and protect the area from physical impact, in case of cold use a nasal spray or pay a visit to your doctor
• Cooling of the area and a higher pillow is recommended, and in case of sinus surgery nose blowing must be avoided
• If necessary, take your antibiotics as prescribed
• Inform your doctor about prolonged or excessive bleeding, pain, fever or any other unusual symptoms, if these appear after oral surgery
• Driving is not recommended immediately after procedures
• Follow any other instructions given by the oral surgeon

Risks of local anaesthesia:

• Allergic reactions: very rare
• Local bleeding: disappears after 1-2 weeks
• Nerve damage: rare, but may occur, causes sensitivity or numbness in the jaw joint for a few months; we recommend administration of vitamin B3, the nerve will regenerate itself in time
• Lockjaw or inability to open the mouth; this can last for 1-2 days, we recommend to try to move and exercise the jaw, for a better blood supply and quicker recovery
• Temporary facial paralysis, which affects the facial muscles; this disappears in 2-3 hours, but may cause temporary weakness and dullness

If we pay attention to proper oral hygiene at home and if we visit regularly our dentist for a dental check-up and dental cleaning, then we are doing everything we can for the health of our teeth. During dental check-up and cleaning treatment any small defect can be discovered in time. It is recommended to pay a visit to your dentist every six months for a check-up, even if you don’t have any concern.

We use aesthetic white fillings, and also inlay, onlay and overlay fillings in cooperation with a dental technician.

The aesthetic white filling can be used both on front teeth and on molar teeth. The filling material adheres tightly and gap-free to the dental tissue, therefore the filling will be durable and tooth-coloured, almost imperceptible. Thanks to the filling materials of great quality used by us, the shape and colour of your teeth can be beautifully restored, personalized, and the result will be as if you regained your own whole tooth.

Many people do not recognize the importance of fissure seal, although with this procedure, carried out in time, plaque build-up in fissures can be prevented. This treatment is recommended in childhood, after the eruption of molar teeth, so parents should pay attention to this. Fissure seal is a procedure during which the deep grooves between the molar cusps are sealed with a liquid filling material.

The treatment is short and painless, and there are only a few small inconveniences for the child, such as sour taste and opening their mouth for a couple of minutes. This short treatment may be a great opportunity to get to know the dental office and the dentist in a calm environment. The fissure seal may wear out over time, so it is recommended every six months to do a check-up and to replace it if necessary.

We recommend these fillings as an alternative for filling a large cavity. Their dimensions correspond with normal fillings but are created in a dental laboratory by a dental technician and are made of ceramics or sometimes of tooth-coloured filling material. The fillings are prepared by a dentist in the dental office and are placed on the tooth also by a dentist.

These fillings have great aesthetic and functional properties and are extremely resistant, so they are the perfect solution for treating molars with severe material loss or to close a root canal. The name of the fillings – inlay, onlay and overlay – marks their dimensions: while the inlay can be used instead of smaller fillings, the onlay and the overlay filling replace bigger deficiencies.

Root canal treatment can be a solution in case of carious, severely deteriorated teeth, or in case of frequent toothache which can be a shooting pain on warm stimulus or sometimes a throbbing pain on chewing, if the problem is affecting the dental pulp. We always try to save your own teeth, if there is a way, so usually we recommend root canal treatment instead of tooth extraction. During root canal treatment, as a first step we drill an access hole and eliminate the carious parts in local anaesthesia, then we clean the pulp from deteriorated tissue with specially designed instruments. The treatment may last for more occasions. If the inflammation is severe, then after cleaning the cavity, we temporarily close it with a medicated filling. Then, after 2-4 weeks, we clean out the tooth again and we make the final steps by filling up the canals with a special substance. After the root canal is finished, the crown is restored with an aesthetic filling, a ceramic crown or a special filling – depending on the degree of damage and the state of the remaining tooth material.

Pain after root canal treatment
Feeling pain after the treatment, after the anaesthetic wears off, is natural. The gums and the tissue surrounding the teeth can also be sensitive after the process, the jaw may be sore by keeping the mouth open for a long time. If the pain persists after 4 days, please visit your doctor.

Everyday oral hygiene at home is the most important step, be it a filling, a crown, taking care of a wound after tooth extraction or an implant. It is never too late to work up a routine for proper oral hygiene, which helps to maintain your dental health and beauty on long term and to save money.

You are the most important partaker in every successful treatment, regardless of type, because without a thorough cleaning routine at home the success is only temporary. Please always consult with your dentist or dental hygienist and do your cleaning routine accordingly.

Periodontology is a specialty that studies the diseases of the “periodontium”, the supporting structures of the teeth and the surrounding tissues. Plaque is continuously forming in the mouth during meals and it is deposited on the surface of teeth, between the teeth and along the gums. If the plaque is not removed for a longer period, the tissues of the tooth socket may get damaged. Prevention is the best way of treatment for periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is recommended for you to go to a check-up at least twice a year and to do a professional dental cleaning every six months. You can preserve the health of your teeth and prevent tooth decay and periodontal diseases, if you learn a correct teeth cleaning technique and if you take part in regular dental check-ups. If you neglect this, a poor oral hygiene can easily lead to tooth decay and the development of periodontal diseases. When talking about periodontal diseases we often think only about the inflammation of the gums, but it is a complex problem: the existing inflammation can damage the bone around the tooth, which is an irreversible process. The decay of the bone can lead to tooth loss.

Common symptoms of periodontal diseases:

• Frequent gum bleeding while brushing the teeth
• Red or purple, swollen gums
• Loose teeth and teeth drifting
• Bad taste in mouth and bad breath
• Receding gums
• Fall out of an apparently healthy tooth

If the gum infection is already present, the healing process can last for 4-6 weeks after cleaning the periodontal pocket. The more severe pain ceases in 1-2 hours after the treatment, there is no need for pain killers. It should be sufficient for healing to use a toothbrush and toothpaste for sensitive teeth and a mouthwash.

We take responsibility for the problems which occur due to material defects or which develop during the work of the dental technician. We do not take responsibility for cavities formed because of poor oral hygiene and for damage of fillings, crowns or bridges caused by accidents.

The warranty is 1 year for fillings, 3 years for special fillings (inlay, onlay, overlay), 2 years for veneers, 3 years for fixed prosthesis, 2 years for the mobile part of mixed dentures and for removable complete denture, 1 year for acrylic denture, if the conditions are respected. In order to maintain the warranty, a dental check-up and dental cleaning is required every 6 months.