after 1st session
30-45 minutes
One session every 6 months, or as advised by the dentist.
Some may experience mild sensitivity for a few hours.
It is generally recommended to do it every 6 months unless your dentist suggests otherwise based on your oral health.
Yes. Brushing and flossing cannot remove tartar (calculus) once it forms. Only a dental professional can remove it.
No. It uses gentle vibrations and water spray to remove tartar safely without damaging your teeth or gums.
You might experience temporary sensitivity, gum tenderness, or slight bleeding—especially if you haven’t had it done in a while.
Scaling is a common dental procedure to remove hardened plaque called calculus which causes teeth damage and gum diseases. As this procedure may leave the teeth rough, polishing is followed to smooth them out.
Harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum inflammation live in dental plaque and calculus that accumulate around teeth and under the gums. While plaque can be removed with proper brushing and flossing, some plaque is inevitably left behind and hardens to form calculus which can only be removed with professional dental cleaning.
A basic scaling and polishing will remove plaque, calculus and stain to restore your bright and fresh smile. This process also allows us to better examine your teeth for any more subtle problems like leaky fillings or cracks that may need our attention. If done regularly as recommended, this is a gentle and basic procedure that will only take minutes but go the longest way in keeping your dental health on track.
During the routine dental visit, the dentist will first examine your oral condition, followed by scaling and polishing of the teeth.
Scaling is the process of removing plaque and tartar around the teeth and along the gum line using an ultrasonic cleaning instrument. If left to accumulate, plaque and tartar will harbor bacteria that can cause decay and gum disease.
Occasionally, deeper scaling using hand instruments is required to remove tartar attached to the root surfaces of gum diseased-teeth. Doing so will remove the bacteria that live in the gum pockets and encourage the gums to heal. This procedure is called Root-Planing. In such instances, appropriate local anesthetic will be given prior to cleaning to ensure maximum comfort.
After scaling is completed, we then carry out polishing of the teeth to remove external stains and smooth out their surfaces. We can do this either by using a rotating brush with cleaning paste or an air-powder spray for tougher stains. The result of this is clean, smooth and glossy teeth that is easier for you to maintain at home.
