Professional Oral Hygiene 

Professional oral hygiene is a set of procedures that helps remove dental plaque, tartar, and pigmented deposits from the surface of the teeth and from hard-to-reach areas.

Even with good home care, some plaque may remain between the teeth, along the gumline, in areas of crowding, around crowns, veneers, implants, braces, or retainers. Over time, soft plaque mineralizes and turns into tartar, which cannot be removed with a regular toothbrush.

Professional oral hygiene helps reduce the risk of cavities, gum inflammation, bad breath, periodontal problems, and enamel staining. It is not a cosmetic procedure, but an important part of prevention and maintaining the health of the teeth and gums.

At Iskusstvo Clinic, professional oral hygiene is selected individually. The doctor assesses the condition of the enamel and gums, the presence of tartar, sensitivity, implants, and prosthetic restorations, and selects a gentle cleaning protocol.

When Professional Oral Hygiene Is Needed

Professional oral hygiene may be recommended:

For dental plaque and tartar.

For bleeding gums.

For bad breath.

Before cavity treatment.

Before teeth whitening.

Before the placement of veneers, crowns, or inlays.

Before implantation and prosthetic treatment.

During orthodontic treatment.

If the patient has retainers, braces, implants, or crowns.

For the prevention of cavities and gum inflammation.

How Professional Oral Hygiene Is Performed

First, the dentist or hygienist assesses the condition of the teeth and gums, as well as the presence of plaque, tartar, pigmentation, inflammation, and sensitivity.

Then hard dental deposits are removed. Ultrasonic instruments may be used for this purpose, helping to gently remove tartar from the tooth surface and the area near the gums.

After that, soft plaque and pigmentation are removed. Depending on the situation, special powder-based systems, brushes, pastes, and polishing instruments may be used.

At the final stage, the teeth are polished. A smooth enamel surface retains less plaque, making it easier for the patient to maintain cleanliness at home.

If necessary, the doctor may apply remineralizing or fluoride-containing products to reduce sensitivity and strengthen the enamel.

What Professional Oral Hygiene Provides

After the procedure, the teeth become smoother and visually lighter due to the removal of plaque and external pigments.

Professional oral hygiene helps reduce gum inflammation, bleeding, and bad breath if these issues are associated with plaque and dental deposits.

It is important to understand that professional hygiene does not chemically whiten the teeth and does not change the natural color of the enamel the way in-office or at-home whitening does. It restores the teeth’s natural cleanliness and removes surface staining caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, and food.

How Often Professional Oral Hygiene Should Be Done

The frequency of professional oral hygiene depends on the condition of the teeth and gums.

For many patients, the procedure is recommended approximately 1–2 times a year. In cases of periodontitis, braces, implants, retainers, a strong tendency to form tartar, or pronounced pigmentation, visits may be needed more often.

The exact schedule is determined by the doctor after an examination. The doctor takes into account the quality of home care, the condition of the gums, the rate of plaque formation, and the presence of orthodontic or prosthetic restorations.

Care After the Procedure

After professional oral hygiene, it is important to maintain the result at home.

The doctor may recommend a toothbrush, toothpaste, irrigator, dental floss, interdental brushes, or other products for cleaning between the teeth. This is especially important in cases of crowded teeth, implants, crowns, braces, and retainers.

During the first few hours after the procedure, if sensitivity is increased, it is better to avoid very hot, cold, or acidic foods. If fluoride treatment was performed, the doctor will separately explain when the patient can eat and drink.