Subgingival calculus professional#
It's important to note that, while you can clean plaque off your teeth with brushing and flossing, hard tartar can only be removed by a professional cleaning, explains the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). This type of calculus is usually dark brown to greenish black in color and can be detected with a dental instrument called an explorer. But the tartar that forms below the gumline - and is therefore not immediately visible - is known as subgingival calculus. Tartar that accumulates on your teeth above the gumline and is easily seen by your dentist or dental hygienist is called supragingival calculus, according to the IJDHS article. Once calculus forms, it then attracts more plaque, which in time can become another layer of calcified material. Calcification times can vary from person to person, depending on their salivary pH and the amount of calcium and other substances in their saliva. The average length of time for mineralization, however, is 10 to 12 days. Plaque can harden into calculus in as little as four to eight hours. This process is what creates calculus, a hard mass of bacteria stuck to your tooth surfaces. How Calculus DevelopsĪn article published in the International Journal of Dental and Health Sciences (IJDHS) explains that plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth, can mineralize due to the exchange of calcium and phosphate ions present in your saliva.
If left unremoved, subgingival calculus can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Calculus is classified as either supragingival or subgingival, depending on its location on your teeth. This formation, also known as tartar, is a calcified mass that adheres to your teeth. When plaque builds up in your mouth, it can turn into an even greater dental health threat: calculus.
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