Scaling vs. Deep Cleaning: Is There a Difference?

If you want to have your gums cleaned, you might hear a few terms being tossed around about which treatments are available. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get these treatments confused, largely because the terminology might be used interchangeably. If you’ve heard of scaling or deep-cleaning your gums and wondered what the difference is, we’ll look at what you need to know.

Is There a Difference Between Deep Cleaning and Scaling?

Both deep cleaning and scaling clean your gums. With both procedures, a dental technician or dentist in Deerwood, MN, will chip away at the accumulation, both to make them healthier and to make them more resilient to damage in the future. However, technically, there is a difference, even if you may hear the two words used as substitutes for one another.

What Is Scaling?

Scaling will remove the plaque and the tartar above the gumline with the use of hand or ultrasonic tools. It can take up to an hour, and it’s considered to be a standard part of regular dental work.

What Is Deep Cleaning?

A deep cleaning in Aitkin, MN, will take the process further, removing the plaque and tartar all around the gum line. A dentist may need to invest a little more time to get both above and below, which is why the process can take multiple appointments to finish.

Whether you need a deep cleaning or scaling will depend on the severity of your condition. For many people, the scaling will be enough to correct the problem, eliminating enough plaque and tartar in one session, you don’t need to keep coming back.

Finding the Right Dentist in Aitkin, MN

Gum disease is more than just an inconvenience. It can threaten your entire oral health. The longer you allow plaque and bacteria to build up, the more likely you are to need a more complicated procedure. If you hope to avoid surgery, deep cleaning or scaling can be the key to keeping your gums as intact as possible.

At River Oaks Dental, with locations in Aitkin and Deerwood, you’ll meet a staff that can tell you more about these procedures and how they’ll help your teeth and gums. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.