Heidi Hausauer, AGD spokesman for DDS, said she often sees equipment similar to scaler machines - equipment used by dentists and dental hygienists to remove tartar and other deposits from tooth surfaces - to advertise in magazines and sell in pharmacies.
She said: "Some people use these over-the-counter dental instruments into the office and separate their anterior teeth from them." I have seen the root of the patient, cutting the enamel off the incisors. "
Abuse of the device can also lead to periodontal (gingival) abscesses when the tartar is pushed under the gum line.
Although dentists and hygienists have been trained in the proper use of dental instruments and removal of tartar, they warn that patients trying to do their own home may cause more harm. Instead of trying to tell patients to use these devices correctly, many people tell them to avoid the use of these devices.
