Scaling & Polishing in Parnasree, Behala, Kolkata

Scaling is the single most cost-effective dental treatment there is. It takes under an hour, it is not painful, and it is what prevents the gum disease that causes most adult tooth loss.

Why brushing is not enough

Plaque that is not removed within about 48 hours mineralises into calculus — tartar — which is hard, porous and bonded to the tooth. No toothbrush removes it. It sits at and below the gumline holding bacteria against the tissue.

The gums respond with inflammation: they bleed when brushed, they look puffy, and breath turns stale. That stage, gingivitis, is completely reversible. If it is left, the inflammation spreads to the bone holding the teeth, and that damage is not reversible.

What the appointment involves

An ultrasonic scaler vibrates the tartar loose with a fine water spray, and hand instruments clean the areas the tip cannot reach, including just below the gumline. The teeth are then polished to remove surface stain from tea, coffee, tobacco and paan, and to leave a smooth surface that slows the return of plaque.

You will hear a high-pitched buzz and feel cold water. If your gums are inflamed there may be some tenderness and bleeding during the clean — that is the inflammation, not the instrument, and it settles within days.

The myth about scaling loosening teeth

This one keeps people away from the dentist for years, so it is worth stating plainly: scaling does not loosen teeth and does not thin enamel. Where tartar has been present for a long time it is partly splinting already-loose teeth and filling spaces left by receded gums. Removing it reveals the damage that was hidden — it does not cause it.

Sensitivity for a week or two afterwards is common and passes. A desensitising toothpaste helps in the meantime.

Questions patients ask about Scaling & Polishing