Cleaning & prevention
Scaling and Polishing
Scaling and polishing — commonly called professional teeth cleaning — removes the plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) that normal home brushing can't eliminate, leaving teeth clean and gums healthier.
Professional teeth cleaning
Even with disciplined twice-daily brushing and flossing, saliva minerals naturally bind with oral bacteria to create a hardened, calcified deposit called dental calculus or tartar. Once calculus forms, it bonds strongly to enamel and root surfaces and cannot be removed with a standard toothbrush.
During a professional scaling and polishing appointment at Mantsho Dental, specialised dental instruments carefully detach calculus deposits from tooth crowns and along the gum margins. This is followed by a gentle polishing paste that smooths tooth surfaces, leaving teeth feeling clean and refreshed.
Scaling, polishing and daily care
- Protecting gum health. Calculus harbours live bacterial colonies that irritate gum tissue, causing gingivitis (swelling and bleeding). Removing deposits relieves this inflammatory trigger.
- Complementing your home routine. Professional cleaning works with your home routine. Smooth, polished enamel makes it easier for daily brushing to sweep away fresh food debris.
Cleaning versus whitening
Scaling & polishing (hygiene)
A preventive health treatment focused on removing bacterial biofilm, calculus, and superficial tea or coffee stains. It restores your teeth to their natural clean baseline.
Teeth whitening (cosmetic)
A distinct chemical treatment (such as laser teeth whitening with BLANCONE) designed to lighten internal enamel and dentine pigmentation beyond your natural shade.
Discussing sensitivity and individual needs
If you have exposed root dentine, gum recession, or known cold sensitivity, please mention it before your cleaning. Our dental therapist adjusts instrumentation, pressure, and temperature to maximise your comfort throughout the procedure.
Teeth cleaning questions
What is scaling and polishing?
Scaling is the mechanical removal of hard tartar and plaque from tooth surfaces and beneath the gumline, while polishing smooths enamel and buffs away surface staining.
How is it different from whitening?
Cleaning cleans the outside of teeth for health and freshness; whitening uses peroxide-based agents to alter the internal shade of the teeth for aesthetic lightening.
Should I mention sensitive teeth?
Yes. Mentioning sensitivity helps us adapt our techniques and discuss desensitising pastes or protective varnish applications.
Does cleaning replace daily oral hygiene?
No. Professional cleaning complements your daily routine. Plaque begins forming again within hours, requiring consistent twice-daily brushing and flossing at home.
When should I return?
Recall intervals are personalised during your consultation, based on your individual rate of tartar accumulation, gum health, and home care.
Related services
Book your scaling and polishing visit
Call Mantsho Dental on 063 289 0889 to arrange a professional teeth cleaning session in Johannesburg South.