Scaling and Cleaning

Types of Dental Scaling Methods

There are two types of scaling tools, and some dentists or dental hygienists use both:

Scaling with hand-held tools. Your Preston dentist or periodontist will use a dental scaler and curette to remove (scale) the plaque from the teeth manually.

Because the dentist can’t see the plaque, they rely on touch to identify areas of tartar buildup and rough spots.

Scaling with ultrasonic instruments. Ultrasonic scaling instruments remove plaque from the teeth using a vibrating metal tip that shaves off the tartar, and a water spray to wash it away and keep the tip cool.

During the procedure, your Preston dentist will numb the gums and tooth roots with local anaesthesia, but teeth scaling and root planing cause minimal discomfort.

Your dentist will use specialised tools to remove the hardened deposits of plaque build-up (tartar) from the teeth both above and below the gum line.

Root planing is smoothing rough areas on the roots of the teeth that contribute to the formation of gum disease by trapping and holding bacteria.

The whole procedure may be performed in a single visit, although generally a quadrant (1/4th of the mouth) or half of the mouth is recommended to be treated per appointment.

After a scaling and planing, you can expect that your gums will be numb from the anesthesia and then possibly a little tender.

But if you maintain a consistent oral health routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing, your gums should quickly regain a firm, healthy, pink appearance.