Scaling & Polishing

Scale & Polishing involves the removal of debris & staining form the surfaces of the teeth. The teeth are cleaned using an ultrasonic scaler & hand instruments, & then polished using a rubber cup & prophylactic paste.

Advanced gum disease sometime requires cleaning below the gum line to remove stubborn, crusty deposits called tartar or calculus, and to remove damaged tissue. This is done to promote healing, to prevent further damage and restore and stabilize the tooth.

For some patients, a local anesthetic is administered to the affected area. Then, a small scaling instrument and/or ultrasonic cleaning device are used to remove the deposits. After cleaning, the root may need to be smoothed or planned, to allow gum tissue to reattach itself and heal properly.