A dental tartar detection and removal device (10) comprises a powered tartarremoval instrument (12) adapted to be displaced along a tooth (T),illumination means (14) for illuminating with an incident light a region onthe examined or periodontal site, detection means (16) for collecting thelight reflected thereat, and an analysing system for providing a signal to anoperator (OP) of the tartar removal instrument (12) or to the tartar removalinstrument when measurements on the reflected light in one or morepredetermined ranges of wavelengths fall within any first predetermined rangeof values that are characteristic of tartar, or when said measurements do notfall within any second predetermined range of values that are characteristicof artefacts other than tartar. As a result of the signal, the removalinstrument becomes actuated, either by the operator (OP) or automatically, andthe operator can proceed to removing the detected tartar (S) without having toremove the detection device, whereby detection can be continued while thetartar removal instruments (12) is in a tartar removal position, and until alltartar (S) has been removed.
