The task of doing a scale and polish on your teeth will usually fall upon the Hygienist, although the dentist will perform the task at smaller surgeries where no hygienist is present. The Hygienist will perform a scale & a polish of your teeth when they require a good clean to remove all traces of plaque and tartar.

Scaling is used to remove all the hard tarter on your teeth as this cannot be removed by just brushing your teeth.  The polishing stage helps to clean away the stains from the teeth, which may have been caused by caffeine and tobacco. 

For people who suffer from gum disease they will require a deeper scaling, which is called ‘root planning’. This treatment cleans all around the roots of the teeth an anaesthetic may be given, as the treatment may be very uncomfortable. 

There are two different types of scaling:

	Hand scalers - that come in all different shapes and sizes which enables the different parts of the teeth to be cleaned.
	Electric scalers - use very fast vibrations in water, the water is then sucked out of your mouth.

What are the benefits?
Regular scaling and polishing by the Hygienist is very beneficial as you are maintaining healthy teeth and gums. It will also make it easier for you to clean your teeth at home. The treatment will make your teeth look and feel better. It helps to prevent bad breath and also gums from bleeding. 

For more information about the Hygienist - click here.