Regular dental care

Scale & Polish

Regular hygiene appointments help remove plaque and tartar, supporting healthy gums and reducing the risk of dental problems.

Why choose us Meet the team

Scale & polish

Regular hygiene appointments help remove plaque, tartar and staining, supporting healthier gums, fresher breath and a smile you'll feel proud to show.

What happens during a scale and polish at Indigo Dental?

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for a healthy and beautiful smile. However, brushing and flossing alone may not be enough to keep your teeth and gums in good shape. A routine scale and polish procedure, at our dental practice, seeing a dental hygienist in Jersey, to remove tartar buildup and stains from your teeth, can prevent the need for complex dental work later on.

A scale and polish procedure is a professional teeth cleaning treatment that aims to remove plaque (a sticky film that contains bacteria), stains, and tartar. Tartar is a hard calcified deposit that forms around teeth and can cause further decay. Here at Indigo Dental Practice, we perform atraumatic supragingival and subgingival cleaning. What this means is our dental hygienists in Jersey will gently remove any tartar and plaque, using mild vibrations and cool water to wash away loose debris.

They also use dental mirrors to identify any issues in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Early gum disease can be treated with tooth scaling and cleaning, as well as advice on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums. If, during a scale and polish treatment, the later stages of gum disease are detected, further treatment may be necessary.

Key points

What are the benefits and risks of a scale and polish?

A scale and polish is one of the most effective preventative dental treatments, helping to maintain healthy teeth and gums while keeping your smile looking and feeling its best. Understanding the benefits and potential considerations can help you make informed decisions about your ongoing oral health.

Supports healthy teeth and gums

A professional scale and polish removes plaque and tartar build-up that can't be removed through brushing alone. Regular dental hygiene appointments help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems.

A cleaner, brighter smile

Professional cleaning can remove surface stains caused by tea, coffee, red wine and tobacco, leaving your teeth looking cleaner, brighter and feeling noticeably fresher.

Temporary tooth sensitivity

Some patients may experience mild sensitivity to hot, cold or brushing after a scale and polish, particularly if there's been significant tartar build-up. This is usually short-lived and settles within a few days.

Mild gum tenderness

It's normal for your gums to feel slightly tender or bleed a little after treatment, especially if they've been affected by plaque or early gum disease. These symptoms are temporary and often improve as your gum health recovers.

Everything you need to know about scale and polish treatments at Indigo Dental:

Scale and polish consultation

Before you have your scale and polish, your Jersey dentist will ask you if you have any concerns about your teeth that may need addressing. An examination of your teeth and gums will then follow. If any dental problems are detected, you may have an X-ray to further investigate.

Scale and polish at Indigo Dental

Your dentist, at our Jersey-based practice, will use a special tool called a scaler to remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth. This process may take some time, especially if there is a significant build-up of plaque and tartar. Once the scaling is complete, at our dental practice in Jersey, your dentist will use a polishing tool to smooth out any rough spots on your teeth and give them a shiny finish.

Scale and polish aftercare

After the treatment, your dentist will provide you with instructions on how to care for your teeth and gums. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly, to prevent plaque and tartar from building up again. Your Jersey dentist may also recommend using a mouthwash or other dental products to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Healthy smiles begin with prevention

Regular hygiene appointments help keep your teeth and gums healthy while leaving your smile feeling fresh and clean.

Removes plaque and tartar
Supports healthy gums
Fresher, cleaner smile

Invest in your long-term oral health

Regular hygiene appointments are one of the simplest ways to protect your teeth and gums, helping to prevent future problems while keeping your smile clean, healthy and fresh.

Meet our dentists

Meet the experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your healthiest, most confident smile.

Tammy McArdle

Tammy joined the Indigo team in the summer of 2022 and is hugely popular amongst our patients. Tammy is incredibly gentle and great with nervous patients whilst also being meticulously thorough.

Caitlin Goodman

Caitlin qualified as a dental therapist in 2016 and has a keen interest in helping nervous patients realise they can cope with dental treatment without fear!

Fiona Hugh

Trained as a Dental Hygienist at Trinity College Dublin, Fiona passionately believes communication is paramount and that her patients feel in control.

Boot appointment

Frequently asked questions

Scale & polish FAQs

Find out more about professional hygiene appointments, including what happens during treatment and how regular visits support long-term oral health.

Can a scale and polish remove stains?

Yes, a scale and polish procedure can effectively remove stains from the teeth. This dental treatment, in our Jersey dental practice, involves using a dental scaler to remove any tartar and plaque build-up from the teeth, followed by a polishing procedure to remove any surface stains.

Will a scale and polish help my bad breath?

Through removing deposits of plaque and tartar, a scale and polish can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, which may help to improve bad breath. Additionally, the polishing component of the treatment can help to smooth out the surface of the teeth, making it more difficult for bacteria to cling to them.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath is often caused by bacteria that accumulate in the mouth, and these bacteria tend to thrive in areas where there is a buildup of plaque and tartar.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. It is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone that support the teeth. Caused by the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, it can lead to an inflammation of the gums. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, leading to tooth loss. Some of the symptoms of periodontal disease include bleeding gums, bad breath, and loose or shifting teeth. Later-stage gum disease has also been linked to more serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. Having a regular scale and polish will help prevent you from suffering the symptoms of gum disease.

Does having a scale and polish hurt?

This is a painless procedure. Most people only feel mild discomfort or pressure during the cleaning process at Indigo Dental in Jersey.

How often should I have a scale and polish?

Typically, a scale and polish is recommended every six months, at our Jersey dental practice, but this may vary depending on factors such as the buildup of plaque and tartar, the health of your gums, and your overall oral hygiene habits. If you have a history of gum disease or other dental issues, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits.