Teeth Cleaning (Scale & Polish)

People with gum pockets that are too deep for regular brushing or a professional cleaning may need scaling and root planing. It is used for chronic periodontitis, while early gum disease without damage below the gumline may need only professional cleaning.

A local anaesthetic may be used, and the treatment may take more than one visit. Afterward, pain can last a day or two and sensitivity can continue for up to a week.

Gums may be swollen, tender or bleed after deep cleaning. A prescribed pill, mouth rinse, or medicine placed directly into the cleaned pocket may be used to prevent infection, control pain or support healing.

The cleaning itself may require more than one visit. A follow-up visit measures pocket depth after the gums heal; deeper pockets can mean that more treatment is needed, and ongoing maintenance is commonly required to sustain periodontal health.

First, plaque and tartar are scaled from above and below the gumline, reaching the bottom of each pocket. Root planing then smooths the exposed tooth roots. The work can be divided across visits and may use local anaesthetic.

For the first day or two, the treated gums may be painful. Tooth sensitivity may last up to a week, while swelling, tenderness and bleeding can occur after the cleaning. Good home care helps prevent gum disease becoming more serious or recurring.

Early gum disease without damage below the gumline may respond to professional cleaning. Other non-surgical options include laser treatment and tray delivery systems, while gum surgery may be considered when non-surgical treatment does not achieve periodontal health.

The gum pockets are cleaned below the gumline, the roots are smoothed, and healing is checked later by measuring pocket depth. Many patients need no further treatment immediately, but most need continuing maintenance therapy.

Scaling and root planing removes plaque and tartar from deep gum pockets, then smooths the root surface to help the gums reattach.