Removal of plaque and tartar (hardened calculus) by a dentist using his/her instruments above and below the gum line is referred to as Scaling.

Gum disease is caused by a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque is always forming on your teeth, but if they aren’t cleaned well, the bacteria in plaque can cause your gums to become inflamed. When this happens, your gums will pull away from your teeth and form spaces called pockets. Plaque then gets trapped in these pockets and cannot be removed with regular brushing. This can only be removed by specific tools. If untreated, gum disease could lead to bone and tooth mobility.

This procedure should be done atleast once in 6 months – 12 months.