Even with amazing oral hygiene habits at home, it is important to visit with a hygienist to remove plaque and tartar build up. Routine cleanings with the hygienist is usually recommended every 6 months to maintain gum health. 

But, for many reasons, sometimes people aren’t able to maintain the recommended frequency of checkups and cleanings. Oftentimes, when an extended period of time has gone in between cleanings, a more advanced cleanings may be recommended. Harmful bacteria and hard tartar can accumulate above and below the gemlike which can cause gum disease known as periodontitis. These deposits cannot be removed with brushing, flossing or even a regular dental cleaning. In order to prevent further damage, scaling and root planing is done to remove bacterial deposits from the tooth surface.