Tooth scaling

Dental hygienist scaling a patient's teeth

Tooth scaling involves the mechanical use of a dental instrument that scrapes away bacterial plaque and calculus from the tooth. Sometimes this device may be electric, known as an ultrasonic or sonic scaler. Scaling is performed on the part of the tooth that is exposed, the coronal or "crown" of the tooth as well as the portion that is normally hiddened by, but not attached to the gum. In combination with good personal dental hygiene, scaling the tooth surface that is in the gum pocket is an effective treatment for early periodontal disease.

References

• Dickson, Murray (1996) [1983]. "Scaling Teeth". Where There Is No Dentist (pdf) (7th printing ed.). Palo Alto, CA: The Hesperian Foundation. pp. 121–128. ISBN 0-942364-05-8. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origdate= and |coauthors= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonth= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |origmonth= ignored (help)