Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile.
Professional hygiene care removes the plaque, tartar and stains that brushing alone cannot – helping you stay confident with your smile and prevention of gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.
We always tailor hygiene appointments are to your needs – from routine cleans to more thorough stain removal and advanced gum care where required.
Levels of Professional Cleaning
Not every patient needs the same type of clean. The level recommended can depend on how much tartar (calculus) and staining you have, as well as the health of your gums.
Generally healthy gums or mild gum disease (gingivitis)
A maintenance clean for patients attending regularly with good oral hygiene and generally stable gum health:
Scale & Polish – The Classic Clean
For minimal tartar and staining
A classic scale and polish is suitable when for small amounts of plaque, calculus and/or staining. It typically includes:
- Removal of plaque and light tartar above the gum line
- Targeted cleaning just under the gum edge where needed
- Polishing to remove surface staining
- Personalised oral hygiene advice
Conventional Polish
The traditional rotating rubber cup or brush with polish to remove most surface plaque and light staining.
Scale & Air Polish – Advanced Stain Removal
For the best stain removal
Also known as “AirFlow”, a scale and Air Polish is also suitable when for small amounts of plaque and/or calculus, but is the best option to remove staining for the best cosmetic result. It typically includes:
- Removal of plaque and light tartar above the gum line
- Targeted cleaning just under the gum edge where needed
- Air Polishing for best removal of surface staining
- Personalised oral hygiene advice
Air Polishing
A modern technique using a fine powder, air and water spray to gently remove:
- Tea, coffee and red wine staining
- Plaque in hard-to-reach areas
- Biofilm around braces, implants and restorations
Compared with traditional polishing, air polishing is:
- More comfortable
- More thorough and effective – producing a brighter, smoother finish
Air polishing might be the best option if you have lots of staining or you want the best cosmetic result.
Hand Scaling vs Ultrasonic Scaling
We use both techniques depending on what’s best for you.
Hand Scaling
- Often preferred by patients who find ultrasonic scaling too sensitive
- Useful for fine detail work and finishing
- Best suited where only lighter deposits are present or used in addition to ultrasonic cleaning
Ultrasonic Scaling
- Uses gentle vibrations and water to remove deposits efficiently
- Particularly effective for heavier tartar
- Usually faster and comfortable for most patients
Unstable gums and severe gum disease (periodontitis)
Treatment for gum disease:
Deep Cleaning & Non-Surgical Root Surface Debridement (RSD)
If you have red/inflamed/bleeding gums and/or severe gum disease (chronic periodontitis).
Deeper and more thorough cleaning may might involve:
- Detailed deep cleaning below the gums
- Thorough removal of bacterial deposits from root surfaces
- Possible use of local anaesthetic for comfort
- Structured review and ongoing maintenance
This is targeted gum disease treatment rather than a routine clean.
How our Hygiene Appointments Differ From an NHS “Scale & Polish”
The NHS provides only the treatment considered necessary to maintain your oral health. This often means the basic “scale & polish” provided with an NHS check-up is focused on removing tartar causing active problems, rather than providing a comprehensive cosmetic clean. Polishing may not always be included unless it is clinically indicated.
Our hygiene visits take a broad preventative and cosmetic approach, as well as treating active disease – cleaning both above and below the gum line where needed, aiming to remove all plaque and tartar, and addressing staining for the best cosmetic results.
Hygiene Treatment Prices
These discounts are available for appointments booked and attended before 03/05/2026 and will be applied when you attend:
Who Benefits Most From Professional Hygiene Care?
Regular hygiene appointments are particularly helpful if you:
- Notice bleeding gums
- Experience staining from tea, coffee or wine
- Have crowns, bridges, implants or orthodontic appliances
- Have had gum problems before
- Want to maintain long-term oral health
Prevention First
Good daily home care is essential, but professional cleaning helps maintain areas that are difficult to manage yourself.
Our aim is simple:
Healthy gums, stable teeth, and confident smiles for the long term.
Last reviewed: 10/04/2026