Scaling and polishing
Scaling and Polishing
Regular professional cleaning (scaling and polishing) is essential in keeping your teeth as clean as possible. While daily brushing and flossing are no less important, there may be certain areas of the mouth that are hard to reach. Plaque and tartar tend to build up in these hard-to-reach areas.
Some of our patients have mentioned that they have avoided the dentist for a long time because the scaling and polishing visits are often uncomfortable and with lots of sensitivity and bleeding.
Let us reassure you that we will do all that we can to be as gentle as possible and to take into account any negative or traumatic experiences you may have had with scaling done at your previous dentist.
Scaling and polishing is part of your active maintenance visits at Elite Dental.
What are the benefits of scaling & polishing?
Scaling helps to remove plaque, food debris and tartar (calcified plaque, almost like how fossils are formed!) that have built up on your teeth over time. If left to accumulate, these bacterial deposits can cause cavities and swollen, bleeding gums. Polishing helps to remove external stains (from coffee, tobacco, red wine or food) from the surfaces of your teeth.
How is teeth whitening different from polishing?
Polishing, however, simply removes the stains on the surface of the teeth. For teeth, ZOOM teeth whitening
How often should we have our teeth professionally cleaned?
Active maintenance visits should take place every four to six months. These visits are also important for monitoring dental conditions such as early decay that is painless. If you have been treated for gum disease or had extensive dental treatment, maintenance may need to be as frequent as 3 months.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Got questions? We’ve got answers! Check out our FAQ section for common inquiries and helpful information to guide you.
What is scaling and polishing?
Scaling and polishing is a professional dental cleaning procedure that removes plaque, calculus (tartar), debris, and staining from tooth surfaces. Scaling is the first step, where a dental hygienist or dentist uses small metal tools or ultrasonic instruments to scrape plaque and tartar from your teeth, including areas below the gumline. Polishing follows, using a device similar to an electric toothbrush with a rubber tip and a slightly gritty paste to smooth and brighten tooth surfaces. This procedure is also referred to as prophylaxis, professional mechanical plaque removal, or periodontal instrumentation.
Why do I need scaling and polishing?
Scaling and polishing helps remove calculus (tartar) that cannot be eliminated by regular brushing and flossing alone. Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats your teeth after eating, and while brushing and flossing remove most of it, some remains. If plaque builds up, it hardens into tartar, which can only be removed by professional dental scaling. Tartar buildup along the gumline causes red, swollen gums (gingivitis), which can progress to more serious gum infections and tooth loss if left untreated.
The primary goal is to remove local irritational factors and create a cleaner oral environment. For patients with periodontal disease, scaling and root planing (a deeper cleaning) removes subgingival calculus and biofilm deposits to create a biologically compatible root surface and reduce inflammation.
Is scaling and polishing painful?
Most patients experience limited to mild pain during scaling and polishing. The procedure itself is generally well-tolerated, though some discomfort may occur, particularly in areas with gum inflammation or sensitivity.
Ultrasonic scalers tend to cause less pain than hand instruments. If you’re concerned about discomfort, topical anaesthetic gels can significantly reduce pain during the procedure. Factors associated with increased postoperative pain include smoking, severe periodontal inflammation, and dental anxiety.
What can I expect during the procedure?
During a typical scaling and polishing appointment, the dental hygienist will first perform scaling using small metal tools or ultrasonic instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, including below the gumline. This is followed by polishing with a rotating rubber tip and slightly gritty paste to smooth tooth surfaces. The hygienist will then floss your teeth.
When needed, fluoride treatment or dental sealants may be applied. The hygienist or dentist may also provide tips on proper brushing and flossing techniques. The entire procedure is typically performed in one visit, though more extensive cleaning for periodontal disease may require multiple appointments.
Will my teeth be sensitive after scaling and polishing?
Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity following scaling and polishing, particularly if significant calculus removal was needed or if there was pre-existing gum inflammation. This sensitivity typically resolves within a few days to weeks. Dentine hypersensitivity is one of the commonly reported side effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy.
If you experience persistent sensitivity, inform your dentist, as desensitizing toothpastes or other treatments may help. The level of sensitivity can vary depending on the extent of cleaning required and individual factors.
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