Calcified plaque are unremoved food debris that become hardened and adhered onto the surface of a tooth. Within the calcified plaque, millions of bacteria can grow which causes localized inflammation to the gingival tissue around the tooth. Also, the gingival pockets will enlarge and external stimulants such as cold water, sour beverages, etc can penetrate to the root surface of the tooth and causes “toothache.” The root surface of the tooth is usually more prone to sensitivity because it does not have the outer enamel layer as the coronal portion of the tooth does. So whenever there is stimulant reaching the root, the tooth is more susceptible to the stimulation.
The cure to this problem is to mechanically remove the calcified plaque within the sulcus of the tooth. This can be done by a regular cleaning procedure if the person does not have periodontal disease. However, if there is periodontal disease, then periodontal treatment such as scaling and root planing procedure, would be necessary. Also, rinsing with medicated mouth rinse can help decrease the bacteria level and this decreases the inflammation.
Written by Daniel Tee, DDS, MS
Dental Office in Tempe AZ
Practicing Family Dentist Serving the city of Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Gilbert, and Mesa in Arizona.
