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Dental Scaling in Scarborough, ON

Dr. Isabel Cumandra of ScarboroSmiles Dental Clinic in Scarborough, ON

Written by

Dr. Isabel Cumandra

Nickolas Steel

Published

Feb 11, 2026

Feb 11, 2026

When plaque builds up on your teeth and below the gum line, dental scaling is often needed to make your teeth and gums healthy again. Getting dental scaling is a simple but key way to protect your teeth and gums from bigger problems later on, like losing teeth or needing gum surgery. At ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON, we use gentle tools and take careful steps so your dental scaling treatment is comfortable and your gums heal well.

Dental Scaling at ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

What Is Dental Scaling?

Dental scaling is a deep cleaning that goes below your gums to remove hard deposits that regular brushing can't reach. This cleaning helps your gums heal and helps prevent gum disease from getting worse. It also helps reduce swelling, bleeding, and sensitivity in your gums.

Dental scaling works like a deep clean for the roots of your teeth. It removes the sticky bacteria and hard tartar that cause gum problems. This immediately helps stop gum disease from getting worse and helps your gums become healthy so they can hold your teeth firmly again.

When Is Dental Scaling Necessary?

Every person's gums and teeth are different! That's why our dentists carefully check your mouth to see if you need dental scaling. Here are some common signs that scaling might help you:

  • You have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). This happens when plaque and tartar build up below your gum line and cause your gums to swell, bleed, or pull away from your teeth.

  • Your gums bleed when you brush or floss. This is often a sign that harmful bacteria and tartar are hiding below your gum line.

  • You have deep pockets between your gums and teeth. When these pockets get too deep, regular cleaning can't reach the tartar, so scaling is needed.

  • You notice bad breath that won't go away, even after brushing. This can be caused by bacteria growing under your gums.

  • Your gums look red, puffy, or feel tender when you touch them.

Our experienced dentists will look closely at your gums, measure the space between your gums and teeth, and may take X-ray pictures of your mouth to see if there is tartar buildup below the gum line. We'll discuss the best treatment plan for you to help make your gums healthy again!

Dental Scaling at ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

What Is Dental Scaling?

Dental scaling is a deep cleaning that goes below your gums to remove hard deposits that regular brushing can't reach. This cleaning helps your gums heal and helps prevent gum disease from getting worse. It also helps reduce swelling, bleeding, and sensitivity in your gums.

Dental scaling works like a deep clean for the roots of your teeth. It removes the sticky bacteria and hard tartar that cause gum problems. This immediately helps stop gum disease from getting worse and helps your gums become healthy so they can hold your teeth firmly again.

When Is Dental Scaling Necessary?

Every person's gums and teeth are different! That's why our dentists carefully check your mouth to see if you need dental scaling. Here are some common signs that scaling might help you:

  • You have gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). This happens when plaque and tartar build up below your gum line and cause your gums to swell, bleed, or pull away from your teeth.

  • Your gums bleed when you brush or floss. This is often a sign that harmful bacteria and tartar are hiding below your gum line.

  • You have deep pockets between your gums and teeth. When these pockets get too deep, regular cleaning can't reach the tartar, so scaling is needed.

  • You notice bad breath that won't go away, even after brushing. This can be caused by bacteria growing under your gums.

  • Your gums look red, puffy, or feel tender when you touch them.

Our experienced dentists will look closely at your gums, measure the space between your gums and teeth, and may take X-ray pictures of your mouth to see if there is tartar buildup below the gum line. We'll discuss the best treatment plan for you to help make your gums healthy again!

Dental Scaling Process at ScarboroSmiles | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

Getting Your Dental Scaling at ScarboroSmiles

Here is how we clean your teeth and gums when you come in for dental scaling:

Step 1: Check-Up and Making a Plan

We start by talking to you about your gums and any problems you've noticed, like bleeding or swelling. We look at your dental history too.

Then we do a careful check of your teeth and gums. We measure the space between your gums and teeth to see how deep the pockets are. Sometimes we take digital X-rays to see if there is tartar hiding below your gum line. After that, we explain what we found and create the best cleaning plan for your mouth.

Step 2: Making Sure You're Comfortable

Your comfort is very important to us! If your gums are sensitive, we can use a gentle numbing medicine (a local anesthetic) so you won't feel pain during the scaling.

We then carefully use special tools to remove all the plaque and hard tartar from above and below your gum line. We clean around the roots of your teeth to help your gums heal and become healthy again.

Step 3: Deep Cleaning Your Teeth

We use small, gentle tools called scalers to scrape away the tartar and bacteria that are stuck to your teeth. For areas deep below the gums, we may use ultrasonic tools that use sound waves and water to break up the tartar.

After scaling, we smooth the roots of your teeth in a process called root planing. This makes it harder for bacteria to stick to your teeth again and helps your gums attach back to your teeth firmly.

Step 4: Final Check and Next Steps

We do a final check to make sure all the tartar and plaque have been removed and your gums look clean and healthy.

Before you go home, we give you easy tips on how to care for your gums after scaling. We may also schedule a follow-up visit to check that your gums are healing well. Following our care instructions helps keep your gums healthy for a long time after your treatment!

Dental Scaling Process at ScarboroSmiles | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

Getting Your Dental Scaling at ScarboroSmiles

Here is how we clean your teeth and gums when you come in for dental scaling:

Step 1: Check-Up and Making a Plan

We start by talking to you about your gums and any problems you've noticed, like bleeding or swelling. We look at your dental history too.

Then we do a careful check of your teeth and gums. We measure the space between your gums and teeth to see how deep the pockets are. Sometimes we take digital X-rays to see if there is tartar hiding below your gum line. After that, we explain what we found and create the best cleaning plan for your mouth.

Step 2: Making Sure You're Comfortable

Your comfort is very important to us! If your gums are sensitive, we can use a gentle numbing medicine (a local anesthetic) so you won't feel pain during the scaling.

We then carefully use special tools to remove all the plaque and hard tartar from above and below your gum line. We clean around the roots of your teeth to help your gums heal and become healthy again.

Step 3: Deep Cleaning Your Teeth

We use small, gentle tools called scalers to scrape away the tartar and bacteria that are stuck to your teeth. For areas deep below the gums, we may use ultrasonic tools that use sound waves and water to break up the tartar.

After scaling, we smooth the roots of your teeth in a process called root planing. This makes it harder for bacteria to stick to your teeth again and helps your gums attach back to your teeth firmly.

Step 4: Final Check and Next Steps

We do a final check to make sure all the tartar and plaque have been removed and your gums look clean and healthy.

Before you go home, we give you easy tips on how to care for your gums after scaling. We may also schedule a follow-up visit to check that your gums are healing well. Following our care instructions helps keep your gums healthy for a long time after your treatment!

Expert Dental Team at ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

Why Choose ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON, for Dental Scaling?

Choosing ScarboroSmiles means you get help from our professional dental team. We are experts at deep cleaning your teeth and gums to keep them healthy.

We work in an advanced clinical setting. This means we use modern dental technology and gentle tools to clean below your gum line and give you the best care possible.

We provide dental care tailored to you. We create a special cleaning plan just for your mouth and what your gums need.

Don't let gum disease hurt your health! If your gums bleed when you brush, look red and swollen, or you have bad breath that won't go away, come see us. Our friendly and talented team in Scarborough, ON, are ready to help your gums and smile become healthy again!

Expert Dental Team at ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON | Best Dentist in Scarborough, ON

Why Choose ScarboroSmiles in Scarborough, ON, for Dental Scaling?

Choosing ScarboroSmiles means you get help from our professional dental team. We are experts at deep cleaning your teeth and gums to keep them healthy.

We work in an advanced clinical setting. This means we use modern dental technology and gentle tools to clean below your gum line and give you the best care possible.

We provide dental care tailored to you. We create a special cleaning plan just for your mouth and what your gums need.

Don't let gum disease hurt your health! If your gums bleed when you brush, look red and swollen, or you have bad breath that won't go away, come see us. Our friendly and talented team in Scarborough, ON, are ready to help your gums and smile become healthy again!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Scaling

How can I tell if I need dental scaling?

Look for these signs:

  • Your gums bleed when you brush or floss.

  • Your gums look red, puffy, or feel sore.

  • You have bad breath that won't go away.

  • Your gums are pulling away from your teeth.

If you notice any of these signs, it's time to call us so a dentist can check your gums.

Does dental scaling hurt?

We want you to be comfortable! We can use a gentle numbing medicine (a local anesthetic) to make your gums numb before we start cleaning.

That means you should feel very little or no pain while our dental team is cleaning your teeth and gums.

How long does dental scaling take?

How long scaling takes depends on how much tartar buildup you have and how deep we need to clean.

  • A simple scaling visit usually takes about 60 minutes.

  • If you have a lot of tartar or gum disease, multiple visits may be required (sometimes it is up to four visits — one per quadrant of your mouth.

  • Deep cleaning with root planing can take 1 to 2 hours per visit.

A note about your gums: After scaling, your gums may feel a little tender or sensitive for a few days. This is normal! If you have any pain that doesn't go away or your gums swell up, please contact our dental team right away.

How often do I need dental scaling?

It depends on your gum health! Most people with healthy gums only need regular cleanings every 6 months. But if you have gum disease, our dentist may recommend scaling every 3 to 4 months to keep your gums healthy and stop the disease from getting worse.

Will my gums heal after scaling?

Yes! Dental scaling removes the harmful bacteria and tartar that cause gum problems. Once these are gone, your gums can heal and become healthy again. They will stop bleeding, look less red and puffy, and fit more tightly around your teeth.

Previous treatment

Root Planing in Scarborough, ON

Previous treatment

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Contact

Phone: (416) 519-6825

Email: info@scarborosmiles.ca

Hours of Operation

  • Monday

  • 08:00am - 08:30pm

  • Tuesday

  • 08:00am - 09:00pm

  • Wednesday

  • 08:00am - 08:00pm

  • Thursday

  • 08:00am - 09:00pm

  • Friday

  • 08:00am - 02:00pm

  • Saturday

  • 09:00am - 03:00pm

  • Sunday

  • Closed

Location

300 Borough Dr Unit 53A,
Scarborough, ON M1P 4P5

Scarborough Town Centre
Lower Level Entrance 6

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