Deep teeth cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is a procedure in which the dentist will go under the gums of a patient to remove plaque, tartar, and debris. This allows the gums to heal, reverses gum disease, and ensures that teeth do not continue to decay due to periodontal disease.

To check for gum disease, a dentist will first check under the gums with a special tool. This probing helps to determine if the patient is suffering from periodontal disease. If the probing goes to depths of 5mm or more, your dentist will likely recommend a deep teeth cleaning. If the disease is bad enough, a dentist may use a local anesthetic to help with the pain. During the scaling process, a dentist will remove the plaque and tartar that is attached to the surface of the tooth. This includes below the gum line, along the root. In order to do this, a dentist will use an ultrasonic scaling tool. This tool may also deliver an antimicrobial agent to reduce bacteria.

Root planing involves smoothing the root of the tooth and removing surface dentin and cementum. This is often embedded with tartar, toxins, and even microorganisms. Antibiotics are sometimes used after the scaling and root planing process to help with healing and to control infection.