Professional Dental Hygiene

Professional dental hygiene at Ortodoncie Havířov includes ultrasonic tartar removal, Airflow gentle polishing to remove plaque and surface staining, treatment of sensitive tooth necks with protective coatings, fluoridation, and full tooth polishing. The service is performed by a certified dental hygienist and is recommended twice yearly for general patients, or every four months for those with gum disease or during active orthodontic treatment. Clean teeth are essential for effective aligner therapy and oral health maintenance throughout any orthodontic programme.

Professional dental hygiene is the cornerstone of preventive dentistry and plays a particularly important role during orthodontic treatment with clear aligners. Invisalign trays cover the teeth continuously for 20–22 hours daily — making thorough plaque control essential to avoid demineralisation, gingival inflammation, and caries development during treatment. **What the hygiene visit includes:** *Ultrasonic tartar removal:* An ultrasonic scaler uses high-frequency vibrations to break up and remove calculus (hardened tartar) from tooth surfaces and below the gumline. Calculus cannot be removed by brushing and accumulates in everyone, but particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. Regular removal prevents gingival recession and bone loss. *Airflow polishing:* The Airflow system uses a controlled jet of warm water, compressed air, and fine powder (typically erythritol or sodium bicarbonate) to gently and efficiently remove biofilm (bacterial plaque), surface staining, and residual tartar from all tooth surfaces — including areas around brackets or between teeth where conventional brushing cannot reach. Less abrasive and more thorough than traditional rubber-cup polishing. *Sensitive neck treatment:* Exposed tooth necks (cervical dentine) are treated with protective fluoride or desensitising coatings to reduce hypersensitivity — a common finding in patients who brush too vigorously or have mild gum recession. *Fluoridation:* Professional fluoride application strengthens enamel by promoting remineralisation, reducing caries risk especially around aligner tray edges and attachment bonding sites. *Oral hygiene instruction:* The hygienist reviews and personalises brushing and interdental cleaning technique, with specific guidance on cleaning around Invisalign attachments and maintaining hygiene while wearing trays. **Frequency during Invisalign treatment:** The clinic recommends standard twice-yearly hygiene for most patients. During active Invisalign treatment, visits every 4–6 months are advised to maintain optimal gum health and enamel integrity under the trays. **Amalgam polishing:** The practice also offers polishing of existing amalgam restorations to reduce surface roughness and plaque adhesion.