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Scaling

What is Scaling? Scaling

Commonly known as a "cleaning", scaling can also be referred to a prophylaxis, or prophy for short. During a scaling, we will remove any superficial stains, dental plaque (soft deposits), and calculus or tartar (hard deposits) that are visible on your teeth and under the gum line, to maintain your dental and periodontal good health. The final step is to polish your teeth. (See below for specifics).

If it has been a while since you had a ‘cleaning’ or if you have certain problems with your gums, we may recommend that you have deeper scaling. These procedures remove the plaque, tartar, and abnormal tissue that has accumulated deep under the gumline where a toothbrush or floss won't reach. If these deposits are not removed, they may lead to gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.

In an effort to make your scaling as comfortable as possible, we will may give you local anesthesia and perhaps treat only a part of your mouth at each visit.

If you have developed gum disease (periodontal disease), scaling will almost always be a part of your treatment plan.

The Scaling Process

Some patients wonder what exactly we do during the scaling (‘cleaning’) process, so we want to share with you some of the specifics:

Scaling Process 1 Scaling Process 3 Scaling Process 6
Step 1 Step 3 Step 6
1) First we check the pocket depths around the teeth by probing. This gives us a great deal of information about the overall health of your gums
2) Then we examine for calculus or tartar, which is the hard residue, ranging in color from yellow to brown to black, which can form on your teeth. Calculus above the gum is easily seen, but below the gum is hidden. This calculus below the gum is detected again by careful probing.
3) We remove the plaque and calculus from above and below the gum line using techniques called scaling. When removing the rock-like calculus the deposits literally fracture from the tooth.
4) Then the rough spots are smoothed removing the crevices that collect bacteria. Smoothing the tooth surface also helps the gums reattach at a higher level.
5) Polishing is the final procedure. This produces a smooth surface, making it difficult for plaque to adhere. All these benefits are only maintained with excellent home care. So be motivated when you get back home. Removing plaque on a daily basis is the key to long term health, as without plaque, calculus and gum disease cannot form.
6) If the gums have shown signs of inflammation, a good cleaning will certainly result in an improvement, provided you continue the removal of bacteria on a daily basis. This includes not only the proper use of a toothbrush and floss with fluoride toothpaste, but also the use of cleaning auxiliaries such as mouth rinses, proxabrushes and other devices as recommended by your health care professional.
7) It is important to note that home care can easily eliminate the plaque above the gums, but is only effective to a depth of about 3 mm below the gums, depending on the individual. So if you do have deeper pockets more frequent cleanings may be required.