Scale & Polish
A scale and polish is a routine dental procedure aimed at removing plaque, tartar, and stains from the surfaces of your teeth. First, the dentist or dental hygienist uses specialized tools to carefully remove hardened plaque and tartar buildup. Next, they polish the teeth using a gentle abrasive paste to smoothen the tooth surfaces and remove surface stains, leaving your teeth feeling clean and refreshed. This procedure helps prevent gum disease, cavities, and maintains a healthy smile. It's a simple yet vital step in your dental hygiene routine, usually recommended every six months for optimal oral health.
What is a Scale & Polish?
During this procedure, we clean your teeth to remove hardened plaque (calculus/tartar) from the tooth surface, which can cause bleeding gums. This cannot be achieved solely through brushing, although regular brushing and flossing can help minimize calculus buildup, and following this, we remove teeth staining through polishing.
If you pay PRSI, you may be entitled to an annual exam, scale & polish for only €15. Contact us to find out if you are eligible for this.
Absolutely, it is an essential step in preventing gum disease, and is usually recommended every six months.
A scale and polish will remove tartar and staining which may improve the appearance of your teeth but will not change their colour. The best way to whiten your teeth is to use a custom bleaching kit.
Sometimes there can be some sensitivity but this can be eased with a numbing gel.