Periodontal Scaling
& Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Before a single instrument touches a patient, we perform comprehensive full-mouth periodontal charting — measuring pocket depth at six sites per tooth, recording bleeding on probing, documenting recession, furcation involvement, and tooth mobility. Digital periapical radiographs are taken to map bone levels at every tooth. This data tells us precisely which teeth require treatment, how deep the calculus extends, and what clinical outcomes are realistic. Scaling and root planing without this baseline data is guesswork — our protocol starts with facts.

Deep cleaning below the gumline is not painful when performed with adequate anaesthesia. We administer local anaesthetic at every SRP appointment — one to two quadrants per session — ensuring that you feel pressure and vibration from the instruments but no sharp pain. We use a topical anaesthetic gel before the injection to minimise needle discomfort. Patients who have postponed treatment because of fear are often surprised by how comfortable the procedure actually is once proper anaesthesia is in place. We do not rush the anaesthesia phase.

We use a combination of piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments (Gracey curettes) for deep cleaning. Ultrasonic scalers use high-frequency vibration and lavage to break apart calculus deposits and disrupt the biofilm in periodontal pockets — they are highly efficient for removing gross calculus and are particularly effective in deeper pockets where hand instruments reach with difficulty. Hand instruments then refine the root surface, removing residual calculus and smoothing the cementum with precision that ultrasonic tips alone cannot achieve. The combination of both modalities produces superior outcomes to either alone.

Root planing is the component that distinguishes a true deep cleaning from a supragingival polish. After scaling removes the calculus deposits, root planing smooths the root surface to remove residual calculus embedded in the cementum and endotoxins that impair healing. A smooth root surface creates an environment where the gum tissue can reattach and where bacteria have fewer microscopic sites to colonise. Root planing is performed with fine hand instruments and requires both clinical skill and patience — corners cut here directly reduce the effectiveness of the entire procedure.

The response to scaling and root planing is measured at a formal re-evaluation appointment 4-6 weeks after the final SRP session. We re-probe every site and compare pocket depths to the pre-treatment baseline. Sites that have reduced to 3mm or less have responded well. Sites that remain 5mm or deeper despite completing active therapy may require additional intervention — localised re-treatment, laser adjunct therapy, or referral for surgical consultation. We use this re-evaluation data to set the maintenance interval and determine any remaining treatment needs. Skipping this appointment means never knowing whether the treatment worked.