Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing) in Aurora

When tartar and bacteria settle deep under the gums, a regular cleaning cannot reach them. A deep cleaning goes to the bottom of those pockets so your gums have a chance to heal.

The short answer

Teeth scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning that removes tartar and bacteria from the pockets below your gumline, then smooths the roots so gums can tighten back against the teeth. At Aurora Gateway Dental in Aurora, it is done with the area numbed, often over more than one visit, followed by a re-check of your gums.

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Visits: Often two or more, one area at a time
Timeline: Varies with how many teeth are treated
Comfort: Local anaesthetic for the areas being cleaned
Coverage: Often covered as periodontal care; CDCP lists scaling and cleaning below the gumline
Dentist: Our dentists

What it is

At your checkup, your gums are measured with a thin probe that slips gently into the space between gum and tooth. Healthy gums usually measure a few millimetres. When the numbers climb, it means the gum has pulled away and a pocket has formed. Bacteria and hardened tartar collect in that pocket, out of reach of your toothbrush, floss and a routine polish.

Deep cleaning teeth has two parts. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces above and below the gumline, right down to the base of each pocket. Root planing smooths the root surfaces so bacteria have a harder time sticking and the gum can settle back against the tooth. Ultrasonic tools and fine hand instruments are both used.

Because the work happens below the gum, the area is numbed first. Many people have one side of the mouth done at a time, so they never have their whole mouth frozen at once. Your dentist may suggest adding an antibacterial treatment in certain pockets or, where it suits, laser-assisted gum treatment. Our periodontics page explains those options.

A deep cleaning is the start of gum treatment, not the end. Some weeks later, your gums are measured again. Pockets that have shrunk show the treatment is working. Any that remain deep may need more care, and in some cases your dentist will explain a referral. After that, periodontal cleaning visits are usually booked more often than a routine cleaning to keep the disease under control.

A patient has a professional cleaning in the dental chair

Is it right for me?

Your gum measurements show pockets deeper than healthy gums.
Your gums bleed when you brush or floss, and a routine cleaning has not settled them.
X-rays show some bone loss around your teeth.
You notice bad breath that does not go away, receding gums or teeth that feel loose.
You smoke or have diabetes, both of which raise the risk of gum disease.

Step by step

Gum chartYour gums are measured at several points around each tooth and checked for bleeding. X-rays show the bone level.
Plan the visitsYour dentist explains which areas need deep cleaning and how many visits that will take. You get a written estimate.
Numb and cleanOne area is numbed. Tartar and bacteria are removed down to the base of each pocket, and the roots are smoothed.
Home care coachingYou are shown how to clean the areas that need extra attention, such as between teeth and along the gumline.
Re-evaluationSeveral weeks after the last area, the gums are measured again to see how well they have healed and to plan maintenance.

How it compares

Question	Deep cleaning	Routine cleaning	Waiting and watching
Reaches	Base of deep pockets	Above and just below the gum	Nothing removed
Freezing	Usually	Rarely	None
For	Periodontitis	Healthy gums or gingivitis	Not advised once pockets form
What follows	Re-check and maintenance	Next routine visit	Gum disease can progress

General information. Your dentist will explain what applies to you.

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Removes the tartar and bacteria that keep gum disease active.
Helps pockets shrink and gums stop bleeding.
Slows the bone loss that can loosen teeth over time.
Fresher breath once the infection settles.

Risks and limits

Gums are often sore, tender or swollen for a day or two.
Teeth can be sensitive to cold for up to a week, sometimes longer.
As swelling goes down, gums may sit a little lower and spaces between teeth can look slightly bigger.
Deep cleaning does not cure periodontitis. Without good home care and maintenance, pockets can deepen again.
Some deep or hard-to-reach pockets may not respond fully and may need further treatment or a referral.

Cost and coverage

Scaling is usually billed in time units, so the fee depends on how many areas need treatment and how much buildup there is. Our fees follow the Ontario Dental Association fee guide. Many insurance plans include it as periodontal care, often with a yearly limit on scaling units, so a predetermination can help you see what your plan will pay before you start. The Canadian Dental Care Plan lists scaling and cleaning below the gumline, and we accept CDCP and IFHP and bill all insurance plans directly. Ask about our in-house dental plan and student program if you have no coverage. You get a written estimate for each stage before treatment begins.

What shapes your estimate

How many areas of the mouth need treatment
How deep the pockets are and how much tartar there is
Whether antibacterial or laser-assisted care is added
Whether X-rays are needed first
How often maintenance visits are planned afterwards

After your visit

Wait for the numbness to wear off before eating, then choose soft foods for the rest of the day.
Rinse gently with warm salt water if your gums feel tender.
Keep brushing, gently, from the first evening. Clean between your teeth as you were shown.
Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth if cold drinks bother you.
Keep your re-check and maintenance appointments. They are what keep the results.

Questions

What do the numbers mean when my gums are measured?

Each number is how deep the space between your gum and tooth is, in millimetres. Lower numbers with no bleeding usually mean healthy gums. Higher numbers suggest a pocket where bacteria can collect. Your dentist will explain your own chart.

Why is it done over more than one visit?

Splitting the mouth into sections lets each area be numbed and cleaned thoroughly without freezing your whole mouth at once. It also lets you see how your gums respond. Some people prefer fewer, longer visits, and we can talk about that.

Will I need antibiotics?

Most people do not need antibiotic pills for a deep cleaning. In some cases your dentist may place a medicine into a pocket or suggest a rinse. They will explain if it suits you.

Why are my teeth more sensitive after scaling?

Tartar and swollen gum can cover parts of the root. Once they are gone, the root surface is exposed to cold and air. This usually eases over days to weeks. Tell us if it does not.

How often will I need periodontal cleaning afterwards?

People who have had gum disease usually need cleanings more often than once or twice a year. Your dentist will suggest an interval after your re-check, based on how your gums have healed.

Reviewed by the dentists at Aurora Gateway Dental Care. Last updated October 29, 2026. This page is general information, not personal medical advice.

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