{"id":9090,"date":"2019-09-09T08:39:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T07:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/?page_id=9090"},"modified":"2025-04-08T19:09:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T18:09:49","slug":"scale-and-polish","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/scale-and-polish\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s a Scale and Polish? Tartar Removal, Teeth Cleaning at a Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What is a <strong>scale and polish<\/strong>? Simply put, it&#8217;s a <strong>professional teeth cleaning<\/strong> with a dentist or hygienist which <strong>removes tartar from teeth<\/strong> to combat gum disease and tooth decay. It&#8217;s a common dental procedure, but if you&#8217;ve never had one before, the idea of teeth descaling can be daunting.<\/p>    <p>If you have questions about teeth scaling and polishing or want to know how to remove tartar from teeth without visiting a dentist, you&#8217;re in the right place.&nbsp;In this article you&#8217;ll find information on:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Scale and polish costs, including on the NHS<\/li>    <li>Tartar removal procedure, duration and what to expect<\/li>    <li>How to make a hygienist appointment<\/li>    <li>Whether it&#8217;s possible to remove tartar at home<\/li>    <li>How to avoid tartar buildup on your teeth in the future<\/li> <\/ul>    <p>We hope this helps you make more informed choices about your dental care for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">better oral hygiene<\/a> in the future.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"what-is-tartar\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is tartar?<\/h2>    <p>Dental tartar, or calculus, forms when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/dental-plaque-tartar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dental plaque<\/a> is left to harden. Plaque builds up on your teeth throughout the day, and if not cleaned away, it soon solidifies to tartar. Tartar contains a mixture of calcium compounds, bacteria, and other organic matter naturally present in the mouth.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-9106\"> <figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-on-teeth-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"get rid of tartar\" class=\"wp-image-9106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-on-teeth-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-on-teeth-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-on-teeth.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tartar often forms around the gumlines, where it&#8217;s harder to brush<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>   <p>Unlike plaque, which is almost invisible, tartar is quite easy to spot. It ranges in colour from white and yellow to brown and black, usually darkening the longer it remains. Tartar usually first accumulates around the gums and between teeth &#8211; the places that are hardest to clean properly.<\/p>    <p>Over time, <strong>tartar not removed from teeth can cause numerous problems<\/strong> including:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Cavities<\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/halitosis-bad-breath\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bad breath<\/a><\/li>    <li>Gum disease<\/li>    <li>Gum recession<\/li>    <li>Teeth becoming loose or falling out<\/li> <\/ul>    <p>Not to mention, it&#8217;s pretty unpleasant to look at.<\/p>    <p>Because our teeth are uneven shapes and it&#8217;s hard to clean between them really well, some degree of tartar buildup is to be expected. However, with regular dental checkups your dentist can keep an eye on the condition of your teeth and recommend a scale and polish for tartar removal, if required.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"tartar-removal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tartar removal<\/h2>    <p>Calculus bonds very strongly to tooth enamel, so you can&#8217;t just scrape it off using your finger. Whereas brushing and flossing properly should remove most of the sticky plaque from your teeth, <strong>tartar removal requires special <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-health\/dental-tools\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"35822\" target=\"_blank\">dental tools<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>    <p>If your dentist or hygienist notices tartar on your teeth, they will conduct a professional teeth cleaning procedure called a scale and polish &#8211; more on that in a moment.<\/p>    <p>However, if you&#8217;re one of those people who wants to avoid visiting the dentists at all costs, you might be wondering how to remove calculus from teeth without going to the dentist. Are there ways to do it yourself?<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to remove tartar at home, without a dentist<\/h3>   <div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-9147\"> <figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"tartar removal tools\" class=\"wp-image-9147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools-768x518.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools-394x267.jpg 394w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tartar-removal-tools.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dental tools for removing tartar should not be used at home<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>   <p>The short answer is, don&#8217;t try to conduct your own dental scale and polish at home.<\/p>    <p>As you&#8217;ll see below, dentists and hygienists use a range of specialist tools to get rid of tartar on teeth. Although you can buy tartar removal tools online, just like dental professionals use for teeth scaling, there is a <strong>big risk of damaging the teeth and gums<\/strong> if these tools are used without the proper training. It&#8217;s also very hard to see inside your own mouth in the same way that a dentist can, to check that all the tartar buildup is removed.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Natural ways to remove tartar at home<\/h3>    <p>But are there any natural ways to carry out tartar removal at home? Can you remove tartar from teeth with baking soda, <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/teeth-whitening\/activated-charcoal-teeth\/\" target=\"_blank\">activated charcoal powder<\/a> or other natural products?<\/p>    <p>Unfortunately for those hoping to remove tartar from teeth without a dentist, the answer is again &#8216;no&#8217;. There are lots of natural ways to remove plaque &#8211; you could try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/natural-tooth-care\/natural-toothpaste\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">making your own natural toothpaste<\/a>, for example &#8211; but once tartar has accumulated, the only safe way to properly remove it is with professional teeth cleaning at the dentist.<\/p>    <p>So, let&#8217;s look at exactly what&#8217;s involved with tooth scaling and polishing.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"what-is-a-scale-and-polish\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a scale and polish?<\/h2>    <p>A scale and polish is a standard cleaning procedure. There are two parts to this common tartar removal procedure, which may be carried out by a dentist or hygienist.<\/p>    <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Teeth scaling:<\/strong> The first task is to clean the teeth and remove any stubborn tartar by scraping it away. Various tartar removal tools are used for descaling teeth, which we describe in more detail below.<\/li>    <li><strong>Teeth polishing:<\/strong> Once the teeth are clean, they are polished to make the surface really smooth. Not only does this improve the cosmetic appearance of the teeth; it also removes rough patches which are more susceptible to plaque buildup.<\/li> <\/ol>    <p>Depending on the state of your oral health, your dentist will either refer you for a scale and polish as and when needed, or will recommend a regular teeth cleaning (usually once or twice a year, or more often if you have poor gum health).<\/p>         <div class=\"dentist-tip\">          <div class=\"dentist-tip__title\">             Ask a dentist: What is root planing and scaling?        <\/div>          <div class=\"dentist-tip__content\">             <\/p>    <p>After the tooth surface has been completely cleaned above and below the gum line, the root of the tooth undergoes a process called planing. This is a process of smoothing the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is removed. <\/p>    <p>It clears away any rough areas that bacteria below the gum line thrive in. And, it makes it much easier for the gum tissue to re-attach itself to the tooth, reducing the size of the pockets that the plaque and bacteria hide in. <\/p>    <p>Scaling occurs above or below the gum line and involves the scraping and removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the tooth. At regular teeth cleanings, it&#8217;s usually only the crown of the tooth that is treated.<\/p>    <p>However, in more extreme circumstances, it is necessary to go further below the gum line to thoroughly remove disease-causing bacteria and its by-products on the root surface. The goal of root planing and scaling is to prevent or treat gum disease and to keep your mouth as healthy as it can be.<\/p>    <p><strong>Dr. Angela Evanson, Angela Evanson DDS<\/strong><\/p>    <p>        <\/div>      <\/div>          <p>Now let&#8217;s look in detail at what a dentist or hygienist does during a scale and polish dental cleaning.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dental cleaning procedure<\/h3>   <div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-9149\"> <figure class=\"alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tooth-polishing-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"teeth cleaning and polishing\" class=\"wp-image-9149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tooth-polishing-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tooth-polishing-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/tooth-polishing.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The final stage is to smooth teeth by polishing them<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>   <p>To begin a scale and polish, dentists normally use an electric scaling instrument, sometimes called an ultrasonic scaler, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/ultrasonic-tooth-cleaner\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"36592\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ultrasonic tooth cleaner<\/a>. This vibrates at high speeds to loosen tartar on the teeth. It also sprays water to wash the debris away, so you might be asked to spit from time to time.<\/p>    <p>Once the electronic scaler has removed larger pieces of tartar, the dentist will use hand scaling tools in a variety of shapes and sizes. They scrape away any remaining tartar, with the different shaped tools making it possible to reach between the teeth and into gum pockets.<\/p>    <p>Any newly exposed areas of tooth enamel can be quite rough, but the final polish takes care of this. The dental polishing tool looks a bit like a rotating electric toothbrush head, and the dentist might use a special toothpaste to finish the dental cleaning.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Heavy tartar removal<\/h3>    <p>If you haven&#8217;t taken the best care of your teeth and have avoided the dentist for years, you may have quite heavy tartar buildup. In extreme cases, tartar can spread to the point where it completely covers the teeth (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JuerJU5huT8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here is one example<\/a>, if you&#8217;re interested). Even if heavy tartar removal is required, it&#8217;s possible to save the teeth underneath once a dental deep cleaning is complete.<\/p>    <p>The process is much the same as described above, but will take longer the more calculus has built up.<\/p>    <p>The video below shows how dental tools are used to remove tartar from teeth, even when it&#8217;s been there a while.<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div style=\"display: contents;\" >  <div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-wxfizx-zuve\" class=\"arve\"> \t<div class=\"arve-inner\"> \t\t<div class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.250000%\"><\/div> \t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &#039;none&#039;;autoplay &#039;none&#039;;camera &#039;none&#039;;ch-ua &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-read &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-write;display-capture &#039;none&#039;;encrypted-media &#039;none&#039;;gamepad &#039;none&#039;;geolocation &#039;none&#039;;gyroscope &#039;none&#039;;hid &#039;none&#039;;identity-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;idle-detection &#039;none&#039;;keyboard-map &#039;none&#039;;local-fonts &#039;none&#039;;magnetometer &#039;none&#039;;microphone &#039;none&#039;;midi &#039;none&#039;;payment &#039;none&#039;;picture-in-picture;publickey-credentials-create &#039;none&#039;;publickey-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;screen-wake-lock &#039;none&#039;;serial &#039;none&#039;;sync-xhr;usb &#039;none&#039;;window-management &#039;none&#039;;xr-spatial-tracking &#039;none&#039;;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" credentialless data-arve=\"arve-youtube-wxfizx-zuve\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/wXfIzx-ZUvE?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" name=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/wXfIzx-ZUvE?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"0\"><\/iframe> \t\t\t \t\t<\/div> \t\t \t<\/div> \t \t \t <\/div> <\/div><\/figure>    <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n  \"name\": \"Plaque removed | Dental calculus | Long overdue plaque removal\",\n  \"description\": \"Note\/Nota\\nAbstenerse de ver este contenido si es sensible, advertimos que las siguientes im\u00e1genes pueden herir su sensibilidad.\\n\\nRefrain from viewing this content if it is sensible, we note that the following images are shocking.\\n\\n\\nIf do you want to see more similar videos  Subscribe  to channel https:\/\/goo.gl\/uBQ7NW\\n\\n___\\nEn realidad si tienes un estomago muy sensible no lo mires es muy asqueroso.\\nPlease note that you may not like some of the content because it is something you consider gross. This is a medical channel. Please exercise your right to turn off these videos if you do not like them. Thanks\\n\\nPor favor,  si tienes un estomago muy sensible no lo mires es muy asqueroso. Apto para personas a las cuales nos gusta de alg\u00fan modo ver estas situaciones\\n\\n\\\"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for \\\"fair use\\\" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, remix, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright\\\" Note\/Nota\\nAbstenerse de ver este contenido si es sensible, advertimos que las siguientes im\u00e1genes pueden herir su sensibilidad.\\n\\nRefrain from viewing this content if it is sensible, we note that the following images are shocking.\\n\\n\\nIf do you want to see more similar videos  Subscribe  to channel https:\/\/goo.gl\/XSR19W\\n\\n___\\nEn realidad si tienes un estomago muy sensible no lo mires es muy asqueroso.\\nPlease note that you may not like some of the content because it is something you consider gross. This is a medical channel. Please exercise your right to turn off these videos if you do not like them. Thanks\\n\\nPor favor,  si tienes un estomago muy sensible no lo mires es muy asqueroso. Apto para personas a las cuales nos gusta de alg\u00fan modo ver estas situaciones\\n\\n\\\"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for \\\"fair use\\\" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, remix, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright\\\"\",\n  \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wXfIzx-ZUvE\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n  \"uploadDate\": \"2016-10-27T22:50:11Z\",\n  \"duration\": \"PT4M14S\",\n  \"embedUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wXfIzx-ZUvE\",\n   \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wXfIzx-ZUvE\",\n  \"interactionCount\": \"1197934\"\n}\n<\/script>     <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does a scale and polish take?<\/h3>    <p>This depends. A routine scale and polish for someone who has generally good oral hygiene might take around 15-30 minutes, with the entire hygienist appointment lasting 30-45 minutes.<\/p>    <p>When more extensive tartar removal is required, it can take a lot longer &#8211; even hours &#8211; and may be spread over more than one appointment. Patients who are nervous about the procedure can request for it to be done under IV sedation. With this, the patient is awake throughout but very relaxed, and won&#8217;t remember much of the experience. However, IV sedation usually has to be paid for privately.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does a scale and polish hurt?<\/h3>    <p>It can be uncomfortable having stubborn tartar scraped from your teeth, but it shouldn&#8217;t be painful if you have done a good job of removing plaque by cleaning your teeth daily.<\/p>    <p>If, however, calculus has built up around your gums and below the gumline, a visit to the hygienist might hurt a little. This is partly because of the effort required to scrape tartar away, and partly because the gums underneath will be sore anyway. Your dentist might apply an anaesthetic gel to your gums to help with the pain, or may even use a local anaesthetic if the procedure is going to be quite invasive.<\/p>    <p>After a scale and polish you might experience some tooth sensitivity while your teeth adjust to being fully exposed again. It can take several weeks for gums to heal after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-health\/deep-teeth-cleaning\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"36152\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">deep teeth cleaning<\/a>, but they shouldn&#8217;t be painful for more than a couple of days.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does a scale and polish whiten your teeth?<\/h3>    <p>Dental scaling and polishing removes surface stains from teeth, so it can make them appear brighter and whiter even though there is no teeth whitening involved. You should also notice that they feel much cleaner.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scale and polish before and after<\/h3>   <div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-9145 size-medium\"> <figure class=\"alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"99\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/before-and-after-scale-and-polish-300x99.jpg\" alt=\"scale and polish before and after\" class=\"wp-image-9145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/before-and-after-scale-and-polish-300x99.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/before-and-after-scale-and-polish-768x254.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/before-and-after-scale-and-polish.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The gums are sore after calculus removal by a hygienist<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>   <p>This image shows <strong>teeth before and after a scale and polish with a hygienist<\/strong>. As you can see, a lot of tartar buildup has been removed and the teeth have a brighter appearance after a dental scaling and polishing.<\/p>    <p>However, the gums which were covered with calculus have become red and inflamed, so this patient will experience some soreness while the gums recover.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What else to expect at a dental hygienist appointment<\/h3>    <p>A hygienist appointment isn&#8217;t just about removing tartar from your teeth. Dental hygienists will also check your general oral hygiene and show you the best way to clean your teeth, as well as addressing any concerns you have.<\/p>    <p>They may finish by applying a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/babies-children\/fluoride-varnish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fluoride varnish<\/a> to protect your teeth, as the video below explains.<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div style=\"display: contents;\" >  <div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-sgfcexie84o\" class=\"arve\"> \t<div class=\"arve-inner\"> \t\t<div class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.250000%\"><\/div> \t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &#039;none&#039;;autoplay &#039;none&#039;;camera &#039;none&#039;;ch-ua &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-read &#039;none&#039;;clipboard-write;display-capture &#039;none&#039;;encrypted-media &#039;none&#039;;gamepad &#039;none&#039;;geolocation &#039;none&#039;;gyroscope &#039;none&#039;;hid &#039;none&#039;;identity-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;idle-detection &#039;none&#039;;keyboard-map &#039;none&#039;;local-fonts &#039;none&#039;;magnetometer &#039;none&#039;;microphone &#039;none&#039;;midi &#039;none&#039;;payment &#039;none&#039;;picture-in-picture;publickey-credentials-create &#039;none&#039;;publickey-credentials-get &#039;none&#039;;screen-wake-lock &#039;none&#039;;serial &#039;none&#039;;sync-xhr;usb &#039;none&#039;;window-management &#039;none&#039;;xr-spatial-tracking &#039;none&#039;;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" credentialless data-arve=\"arve-youtube-sgfcexie84o\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/sgFceXIE84o?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" name=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/sgFceXIE84o?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"0\"><\/iframe> \t\t\t \t\t<\/div> \t\t \t<\/div> \t \t \t <\/div> <\/div><\/figure>    <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n  \"name\": \"Dental hygiene visit\",\n  \"description\": \"Are you visiting the dental hygienist soon? Watch this video to find out what to expect from a routine appointment.\\n\\nPart of the Colgate Leading in Practice initiative.\",\n  \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/sgFceXIE84o\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n  \"uploadDate\": \"2015-01-07T09:54:14Z\",\n  \"duration\": \"PT1M47S\",\n  \"embedUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sgFceXIE84o\",\n \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sgFceXIE84o\",\n  \"interactionCount\": \"16273\"\n}\n<\/script>     <h2 id=\"what-does-a-scale-and-polish-cost\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does a scale and polish cost?<\/h2>    <p>Scale and polish costs vary depending on whether you&#8217;re getting a private or NHS teeth cleaning. The procedure may also cost more if extensive dental scaling is needed.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NHS hygienist cost<\/h3>    <p>If your NHS dentist identifies the need for professional teeth cleaning, you can get your scale and polish on the NHS. NHS dental hygienist charges can come under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/nhs-dental-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Band 1 or Band 2 treatment charge<\/a>.<\/p>    <p>Usually, a straightforward <strong>NHS scale and polish costs the Band 1 treatment fee<\/strong>. However, more extensive treatment for gum problems (including deep scaling) come under Band 2.<\/p>    <p>If you want to get a dental scale and polish even though your dentist doesn&#8217;t think it&#8217;s medically necessary, you will need to pay for it privately. This is the case even if you see your usual NHS dental hygienist for the procedure &#8211; many clinics carry out both NHS and private dental work.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Private dental hygienist cost<\/h3>   <div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-9148\"> <figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/teeth-scaling-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"how to remove tartar from teeth\" class=\"wp-image-9148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/teeth-scaling-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/teeth-scaling-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/09\/teeth-scaling.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Private and NHS hygienist costs vary for a scale and polish<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>   <p>A basic scale and polish with a private dental hygienist costs between <strong>\u00a325 and \u00a360<\/strong>, but expect hygienist prices to be higher for more advanced or complex treatments. Some hygienists offer stain removal treatments, for example. Periodontal cleaning might be charged per quadrant, meaning you only pay for it in the areas where it&#8217;s needed.<\/p>    <p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/dental-insurance-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dental insurance policies<\/a> and private dental plans include preventative care like teeth cleaning as standard. This can be a helpful way to spread the cost of basic dental care if you know you&#8217;ll need regular hygiene appointments.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to make a hygienist appointment<\/h3>    <p>First of all, check with your dentist how often you should receive a scale and polish. You don&#8217;t necessarily need to visit a hygienist as often as you get regular checkups, unless you have particular oral health problems that need special attention.<\/p>    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evidentlycochrane.net\/scale-and-polish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Research from Cochrane<\/a> studied adults with healthy gums who got a scale and polish every six months, every 12 months, and not at all over a period of three years. The conclusion was that there was almost no difference in bleeding gums (one of the signs of gum disease) between the three groups, suggesting that there is little benefit to routine scaling and polishing. However, this study didn&#8217;t include adults who already had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/bleeding-gums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">bleeding gums<\/a> or some other sign of gum disease, so this doesn&#8217;t negate the need to get checked regularly.<\/p>    <p>If you wish to visit an NHS hygienist, you will need to be referred by your NHS dentist during a checkup. For private treatment, you can often book a hygienist appointment directly without any referral.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h2 id=\"preventing-tartar-buildup-with-teeth-cleaning-at-home\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing tartar buildup with teeth cleaning at home<\/h2>    <p>The best way to <strong>avoid painful tartar removal<\/strong> is to prevent tartar buildup in the first place. Following a thorough daily oral hygiene routine will help keep your teeth free from plaque, the biofilm which turns into tartar if it&#8217;s left for long enough. We recommend you read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/brushing-teeth-properly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">guide to brushing teeth<\/a> for full details, but here are some basic steps you can take:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Brush for at least two minutes, twice a day &#8211; one of those times being before bedtime<\/li>    <li>Use a manual or electric toothbrush with soft bristles<\/li>    <li>Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle so the bristles reach below the gumline<\/li>    <li>Take care to brush all surfaces of each tooth<\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/how-to-floss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clean between teeth<\/a> with dental floss or a water flosser<\/li>    <li>Spit but don&#8217;t rinse straight after brushing &#8211; the ingredients in your toothpaste need to stay on your teeth for a while.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p>Even taking this special care to keep your teeth clean, tartar can still build up in hard-to-reach places. 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e.preventDefault();\n            if (navigator.share) {\n                navigator.share({\n                    title: 'Dentaly.org | Your Oral Healthcare Portal',\n                    url: curUrl\n                }).then(() => {\n                    console.log('Thanks for sharing!');\n                }).catch(console.error);\n            } else {\n                jQuery('body').append(tempInput);\n                tempInput.val(curUrl).select();\n                document.execCommand('copy');\n                tempInput.remove();\n                jQuery(this).attr('data-state', 'Link is copied').addClass('copied');\n                setTimeout(function () {\n                    jQuery('.share-copy-link').removeClass('copied');\n                }, 8000);\n            }\n        });\n    });\n<\/script>  <\/div><!--copyscapeskip--><div class=\"medical-references\"><div class=\"medical-references__heading\"><span>Sources<\/span><\/div><div class=\"medical-references__list\"><p><strong>Cochrane UK:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evidentlycochrane.net\/scale-and-polish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scale and polish? Shining a light on routine dental care.<\/a> Consulted 2nd September 2019.<\/p> <p><strong>NHS:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/using-the-nhs\/nhs-services\/dentists\/whats-available-on-the-nhs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What&#8217;s available on the NHS?<\/a> Consulted 4th September 2019.<\/p> <p><strong>Oral Health Foundation:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalhealth.org\/preventive-care-and-oral-hygiene\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preventive care and oral hygiene<\/a>. Consulted 4th September 2019.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><!--\/copyscapeskip-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a scale and polish? Simply put, it&#8217;s a professional teeth cleaning with a dentist or hygienist which removes tartar from teeth to combat gum disease and tooth decay. It&#8217;s a common dental procedure, but if you&#8217;ve never had one before, the idea of teeth descaling can be daunting. If you have questions about &#8230; <a title=\"What&#8217;s a Scale and Polish? Tartar Removal, Teeth Cleaning at a Dentist\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/scale-and-polish\/\">Read more <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What&#8217;s a Scale and Polish? Tartar Removal, Teeth Cleaning at a Dentist<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":9150,"parent":9046,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6116],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1326],"class_list":{"0":"post-9090","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"category-oral-hygiene-category"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Remove Tartar from Teeth - Scale &amp; Polish Dental Cleaning<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tartar removal requires a special teeth cleaning procedure. 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