Dental scaling and cleaning, commonly known as prophylaxis, is a dental procedure that removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth and can cause cavities and gum disease. Tartar is a hardened form of plaque that can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist. Scaling is the process of removing tartar from the teeth, while cleaning is the process of removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth.
Before scaling and cleaning, the dentist or hygienist may numb the gums with a local anesthetic. This is done to make the procedure more comfortable for the patient. The anesthetic is typically injected into the gums around the teeth that will be scaled and cleaned. It takes a few minutes for the anesthetic to take effect, and it will numb the gums for about 30 minutes to an hour.
