Teeth cleaning (scale and polish) in Durban North
We remove the hardened tartar your toothbrush can't shift and polish off surface stains.
If your check-up is due as well, we do both at the same appointment.
When it's time for a clean
Book a scale and polish if:
- you can feel a rough, hard build-up near your gums;
- tea, coffee or smoking has left stains on your teeth;
- your gums bleed when you brush or floss (read why gums bleed);
- your last clean was a while ago;
- you're planning teeth whitening.
Plaque and tartar: what the clean removes
Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. Whatever your brush and floss miss hardens into tartar (calculus), and tartar along the gum line keeps your gums inflamed.
What happens at your appointment
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Step 1: Check of your teeth and gums
We look at your teeth and gums and see where tartar has built up.
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Step 2: Scaling
Tartar comes off the teeth and along the gum line with hand instruments, a vibrating ultrasonic scaler, or both.
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Step 3: Polishing
A soft rubber cup and polishing paste lift surface stains and leave your teeth smooth, so new plaque has less to cling to.
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Step 4: Fluoride and advice, if you need them
We can apply fluoride to help strengthen the enamel, and we give you tips on brushing and cleaning between your teeth.
How a clean feels
Scaling shouldn't hurt. You'll feel some scraping and pressure, and a buzzing vibration if an ultrasonic scaler is used. Gums that are already inflamed can bleed a little during the clean.
Afterwards your teeth may be sensitive and your gums a little tender for a few days. An over-the-counter painkiller, taken as the pack directs, helps if you need one.
When you need a deep clean
Most people need a regular scale and polish, which takes tartar off the teeth above and just below the gum line. If your gums show signs of gum disease, you may need a deep clean (non-surgical root planing) instead. It removes tartar and bacteria from the roots of the teeth below the gum line, and it is usually the first treatment for mild to moderate gum disease.
What to expect from a deep clean:
- your gums are numbed with local anaesthetic first;
- it takes one to two hours and can be split over two visits, half the mouth at a time;
- your gums can feel sore for a couple of days afterwards;
- teeth can be more sensitive to hot and cold for a while, sometimes a month or two.
We tell you which one you need when we check your teeth and gums.
Cleaning and whitening are different
A scale and polish removes tartar and surface stains, so teeth often look brighter afterwards, but it doesn't change their natural colour. Whitening does that, with a peroxide gel that lightens the tooth itself, and it needs healthy teeth and gums, which is why a check-up and clean come first. See professional teeth whitening, or compare whitening options.
Investing in your teeth
The cost of a teeth cleaning depends mostly on whether you need a regular scale and polish or a deep clean. We accept medical aid, card and cash, and you can ask about paying in instalments. Read what a scale and polish includes.
Keeping your teeth clean between visits
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, angling the brush towards the gum line.
- Spit out the toothpaste afterwards rather than rinsing it away.
- Clean between your teeth every day with floss or small interdental brushes.
How often you need a clean
Some people need a clean more often than every six months, and others can go longer. It depends on how quickly tartar builds up, the health of your gums and whether you smoke.
We suggest an interval for you at your check-up. For what the research says, read how often you need a scale and polish.
Having your teeth cleaned with us
If we spot decay or a cracked filling during your clean, we tell you and talk through the options, such as a tooth-coloured filling.
Ask when you book for headphones, a blanket and pillow, softer lighting or a stress ball to hold. See the comfort menu.
We're open on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm.
Your questions about teeth cleaning
A routine scale and polish usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
We give you the cost at your check-up, once we've seen your teeth and gums. Our guide to the teeth cleaning price explains what you pay for and how medical aid pays for it.
Yes. Check-ups and cleaning for children are part of our children's dental care. If it's their first visit, read your child's first dental visit.
At Durban Dental Care, North Coast Road Medical Centre, 490 Chris Hani Road, Park Hill, Durban North. Call 031 563 2473, send us a WhatsApp or book an appointment.
Book a teeth cleaning
Tell us when your last clean was.
Related treatments
Check-ups and X-rays
Catch decay and gum problems early. We examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and take X-rays only where they're needed.
Fillings
A cavity, a cracked old filling or a small chip repaired in composite matched to the shade of your tooth.
Teeth whitening
Lighten the natural shade of your teeth in about an hour in the chair, with your teeth and gums checked first.
