It’s basically like getting the oil and water changed in your car: the more often you do it, the better your car will run. Similarly, the more often you have a scale and polish, the less likely you are to develop advanced periodontal disease. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
It is usually carried out by a dentist or a dental hygienist every 6-12 months (depending on patients needs) along with a dental check up.
FAQs
A scale and polish is performed using a scaler, which vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency to remove calculus buildup. Calculus is essentially hardened plaque that accumulates on the teeth, particularly on the inside of the lower front teeth and the upper back teeth near the cheeks. This hardened plaque cannot be removed through regular brushing.
The plaque contains millions of bacteria that, if left untreated, release toxins that can destroy bone and cause gum inflammation, bleeding, and bone loss. This condition progresses slowly, often without noticeable symptoms for years, until infections develop and teeth become loose, requiring extraction. In addition, leaving this buildup on your teeth will lead to halitosis (bad breath), often with patients being blissfully unaware. Regular scale and polishes are therefore essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing these issues.
A routine scale and polish should not be an uncomfortable procedure. It is not routinely carried out under local anaesthetic; however, we often have patients request anesthesia. If you have particularly sensitive teeth, an area can sometimes be cleaned with a hand scaler, avoiding the use of cold water in the area, which will often help avoid needing a local anesthetic.
Of course, we can numb you up for a scale and polish; however, many people don’t want to be numb for a few hours after a routine and regular treatment. What we would usually recommend is trying to schedule your appointments for a time of year when the water might be a little warmer, so during the spring, summer, and autumn months. The other thing you can do is make sure you are using Sensodyne toothpaste consistently, but especially in the lead-up to a scale and polish appointment for about 3 to 4 weeks beforehand, twice a day.
Of course there is no issue with whitening your teeth after a scale and polish. Depending on the extent of the cleaning, you may wish to leave it once two days before you commence wearing any trays to whiten your teeth.
We certainly would not recommend whitening your teeth before a scale and polish as the procedure will induce a little bit of temporary sensitivity, which could make the scale and polish then quite uncomfortable.
