Polishing/Cleaning - Return Visit

Tucker.Tim

To preface this - I'm planning on going to the dentist in the next week or two and I'm just using this forum as a sounding board for the issue, so please don't tell me I should contact the dentist - I'm not after medical advice, just some input from people who've been in a simliar position or even a dentist themselves.

I've got a medical card and I had some dental work done last year, cumulating in a polishing/cleaning appointment late last year, which means another polishing/cleaning appointment will be off my own buck and I am more than willing to do so, but I have a few lingering questions.

The reason I want to go back is there's a serious build up of tartar on one tooth in particular, as well as clearly noticeable ammounts on more than a few others. All of this was essentially the same way before I went in for my last polishing/cleaning appointment, and I did notice some difference, esspecially in my front bottom teeth that where noticably difference or 'cleaner', but the tartar for the most part remained unchanged.

I'm wondering why would it not have been removed, and how do you broach an issue like this without being unnessarily insulting to the dentist - he's a very nice guy who for just about everything else did a perfect job. Finally, what sort of machine is it that removes tartar? Thanks for the help!

Tucker.Tim

Bump!

georgieporgy

just bring it to the dentist´s attention and don´t worry about offending him. He will more likely be impressed that you have noticed something and are interested in improving the situation.
Sometimes a sonic device (like a vibrator) is used to clean teeth, other times a hand instrument is used to "scrape" them, and sometimes a polisher.