A dental tartar detection and removal device (10) comprises a powered tartar removal instrument (12) adapted to be displaced along a tooth (T), illumination means (14) for illuminating with an incident light a region on the examined or periodontal site, detection means (16) for collecting the light reflected there at, and an analysing system for providing a signal to an operator (OP) of the tartar removal instrument (12) or to the tartar removal instrument when measurements on the reflected light in one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths fall within any first predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar, or when said measurements do not fall within any second predetermined range of values that are characteristic of artefacts other than tartar. As a result of the signal, the removal instrument becomes actuated, either by the operator (OP) or automatically, and the operator can proceed to removing the detected tartar (S) without having to remove the detection device, whereby detection can be continued while the tartar removal instruments (12) is in a tartar removal position, and until all tartar (S) has been removed.
