Deep Cleaning Teeth: What to Expect from Scaling and Root Planning

April 18, 2026 0
deep-clean-1200x800.jpg

If you’ve been told you need a deep cleaning for your teeth, you might be wondering what it involves—and whether it’s something to worry about. The good news is that scaling and root planning is a highly effective, non-surgical periodontal treatment that can stop gum disease in its tracks and protect your smile long-term.

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about deep cleaning teeth, what happens during the procedure, and why it’s an essential step for maintaining healthy gums—especially if you’re looking for expert periodontal treatment in Hammersmith.

What Is Deep Cleaning Teeth?

A deep cleaning—clinically known as scaling and root planning—is a specialised dental procedure used to treat gum disease (periodontitis).

ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”&gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;ass=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;yle=”font-size: 12pt;”&amp;amp;amp;gt;Unlike a routine hygiene clean, this treatment goes deeper by:</span>

  • “list-style-type: none;”>
      <li style=

    </li>

“list-style-type: none;”>

  • lass=”yoast-text-mark” style=”list-style

 

      • -type: none;”>&

    gt;

  • <ul>
    • “list-style-type: none;”&gt;><ul
  • >
  • style=”list-style-type: none;”>
    • style=”list-style-type: none;”>
        <l

      i style=”list-style-type: none;”>

        <l</u

    l>

  • i style=”list-style-type: none;”&gt;
    • <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Removing plaque and tarta
      • “list-style-type: none;”>
          r below the gum line</span></sp

      an&

    gt;

  • “list-style-type: none;”><li>

</ul>&amp;lt;/ul

></ul></u</ul>

l>

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Smoothing

    <

<p>/ul>

<p>the tooth roots to help gums reattach

<ul>

  • class=”yoast-text-mark” style=”list-style-type: none;”>><

ul>

<p>

  • &lt;
  • =”list-

style-type: none;”>

    • span class=””>=”yoast-text-ma

    </li>

rk”>style=”font-s

ize: 12pt;”>Reducing harmful bacteri

<ul>

  • e=”list-style-type: none;”>
      • a that

    cause infection&lt;/span>&

      • lt;/span&

    gt;&l

t;/s

 

pan><

<p>/ul>

<p><span class=”yoast-text-mark”</p>

    • style=”list-style-type: none;”>
      • tyle=”list-style-type: none;”>
          >le=”font-size: 12pt

      ;”>This is a key part of non-surgical periodontal therapy, often recommended when ear

    </li>

ly signs of gum disease progress beyond simple gingivitis.</span></span></li>

=”yoast-text-mark”>style=”font-size: 24pt;”>Why Might You Need Scaling and Root Planning?

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Your dentist or hygienist may recommend deep cleaning if you have signs of gum disease, such as:

<ul&gt;

<ul></p>

        • ss=”yoast-text-mark”>=”list-style-type: none;”><ul>
          • <

        li>e=”list-style-type: none;”>

        • style=”list-style-type: none;”>
            &lt
        • </ul>;l</u

      l>

</ul>

</p>

i><span style=”font-size: 12pt

;”&gt;Bleeding gums when

brushing or flossing

  • <ul>
    • <li

><span style=”font-size: 12p

t;”>Persistent bad breath

 

  • e=”list-style-type: none;”>
        • e=”list-style-type: none;”>&lt;li</li>
    • </ul>

&lt;/ul>

>tyle=”font-size: 12pt;”>Gum recession (teeth appearing longer)</p>

<ul>

      • <ul&gt;
        • <span style=”f
        • </ul>

 

</p>

      • >
        • “list-style-type: none;”>
            • <ul></li>
            • yle=”list-style-type: none;”>
                • o

              nt-size: 12pt;”>Loose

                tee

            th

        </li>

or sensitiv

<p>ity</p>

      • =”list-style-type: none;”>
        • &gt;
            • “l

          ist-style-type: none;”&gt;

            • ass=”yoast-text-mark”>

          yle=”font-size: 12pt;”>Deep pockets between teeth

</ul></ul>

</

ul&gt;

 

          • <l
        • i style=”list-style-type: none;”>

              • tyle=”list-style-type: none;”>
                  and

                gums&

        • </u

l></ul&lt;/ul>

>

lt;/li>

<p>&amp;lt;span class=”yoast-text-mark”&amp;amp;gt;tyle=”font-size: 12pt;”>If left untreated, gum disease can lead to bone loss and tooth loss, making early intervention crucial.</span&gt;

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>If you’re unsure, a regular gum health check o

r periodontal screening can detect issues early.

<span style=”font-size: 24pt;”>What Happens During the Procedure?

  • tyle=”list-style-type: none;”>
      • <ul>
            1. <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”> Assessment & Diagnosis</span></span>
        • </ul>

      </li>

Your dentist will measure gum pockets and assess the severity of gum disease.

        • “list-style-type: none;”>
              • le=”list-style-type: none;”><ul>
              • <ol class=”yoast-text-mark”>tart=”2″>
              • tyle=”list-style-type: none;”>
                  tart=”2″>

                1. style=”font-size: 12pt;”> Local Anaesthetic
                2. &l

                </li>

            • </ul</ul

          >

        >

t;/ol>

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>To ensure comfort, the area is numbed before treatment begins.

        • &lt;ul>
          1. <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”><str
        • =”list-style-type: none;”>ong> Scaling

<span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Special instruments (often ultrasonic) are used to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line.

<ul></p>

          1. Root Planing</li>

The tooth roots are smoothed to discourage bacteria buildup and help the gums heal and reattach.

        • le=”list-style-type: none;”>
          1. <strong> Follow-Up Care</strong></strong&gt;</span>

        </li>

You may need multiple visits depending on the extent of treatment, along with ongoing maintenance.</span>

<h2>Does Deep Cleaning Hurt?</p>

Most patients repor

t minimal discomfort, thanks to local anaesthesia. After the procedure, you might experience:

    • <ul>
        • Mild sensitivity
        • <

      li>Slight gum soreness

    • Temporary bleeding
    • </ul></li><p>These symptoms usually settle within a few days and can be managed with good oral hygiene and dentist-recommended care.

      Benefits of Deep Cleaning Teeth</span>

      <span class=”yoast-text-mark”>yle=”font-size: 12pt;”>Scaling and root planning offers several important benefits:</span>

      ass=”yoast-text-mark”>tyle=”font-size: 12pt;”>✔ Stops the progression of gum disease
      “font-size: 12pt;”>✔ Reduces gum inflammation and bleeding
      <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>✔ Helps prevent tooth and bone loss
      &lt;span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>✔ Improves breath and overall oral health
      tyle=”font-size: 12pt;”&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;✔ Supports long-term dental treatments like implants

      <p>This treatment is often the first step before considering more advanced periodontal procedures.</p>

      Aftercare: How to Heal Faster

      To get the best results from your periodontal treatment in Hammersmith, follow these aftercare tips:</p>

          • =”font-size: 12pt;”>Brush gently twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush
          • &lt;span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Floss or use interdental brushes daily
          • le=”font-size: 12pt;”>Use any prescribed antimicrobial mouthwash
          • &lt;span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Avoid smoking (it slows healing)</li>
          • Attend regular hygiene and periodon
          • tal maintenance visits

          </li>

      How Long Do Results Last?

      The results of deep cleaning can last for years—but only with proper care.

      Maintaining healthy gums requires:

          • Regular dental hygiene appointments</li>
          • Ongoing periodontal reviews
          • >Excellent at-home oral hygiene

      <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Without maintenance, gum disease can return.

      Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

      <td style=”width: 271px;”>As needed

      <td style=”width: 132px;”>Not needed

      <td style=”width: 132px;”>Above gum line

      <td style=”width: 271px;”>Deep Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planing)</strong>

      <strong>Feature Regular Cleaning
      Purpose Preventive Treat gum disease
      Depth “width: 271px;”>Below gum line
      <span style=”font-size: 12pt;”>Anaesthesia</span> tyle=”width: 271px;”>Usually required
      le=”width: 516.6px;”>yle=”font-size: 12pt;”>Frequency</td> Routine

      Why Choose Professional Periodontal Treatment in Hammersmith?

      If you’re searching for scaling and root planning or deep cleaning teeth in Hammersmith, choosing an experienced dental team ensures:

            • Accurate diagnosis of gum disease
            • Gentle, effective treatment
            • <li>

      =”font-size: 12pt;”>Personalised aftercare plans

          • Long-term gum health support

      Book Your Gum Health Assessment Today

      Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. If you’ve noticed signs of gum disease or have been advised to have deep cleaning teeth, don’t delay treatment.

      Book a periodontal consultation in Hammersmith today and take the first step towards healthier gums and a stronger smile.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *






Get in touch

Contact us now

Please note that fees may vary but will be confirmed at the consultation and a written estimate will be given before treatment commences.


CONTACT

(+44) 020 8741 4777



Contact via Email

enquiries@ hammersmithdentalcare.com


Follow us

Our Activity

Join us on social media to explore innovation and empowerment.



Copyright by MoReel 2025. All rights reserved.