Prophylaxis, can be an invasive and often painful procedure.

This is because the Scaling and Polishing proceedure often uses tools called scalers and curettes to scrape clean tartar (*calculus deposits) and calcium deposits from the base of the teeth.

If you are having your Hygienist or Dentist Scale and Polish your teeth in preparation for teeth whitening you need to know.

The risk of hypersensitivity is hugely increased

Scaling and polishing can produce some gum recession and/or detachment of gingival (gum) attachment ligaments called Periodontal Ligaments (PDL*)

Such detachment can create a pocket at the base of each tooth usually exposing the Dentin at a tooth’s base.

This pocket becomes a trap for the whitening gel allowing the gel to become in direct contact with the Dentin and migrate directly into the tooth nerves.

As a Result, normal healthy teeth can become transiently considerably more sensitive than usual.

Therefore, in the interests of your comfort, if you are having your Hygienist or Dentist Scale and Polish your teeth in preparation for teeth whitening, we ask that you wait 14-days for your gingival (gum) attachment fibres called Periodontal Ligaments (PDL*) to reattach before your whitening procedure.

*The PDL is a fibrous connective tissue derived from the dental follicle and originates from neural crest cells. PDL connects the cementum (root covering) to alveolar bone (tooth socket)

These ligaments act like microscopic ‘ties’ the hold the root of the tooth in the tooth socket and act as a ‘shock absorber’ during chewing