What Is Dental Scaling? Does It Hurt?
Everything You Need to Know Before Treatment
Have you ever wondered why you still struggle with bad breath or experience bleeding gums while brushing, even though you take good care of your oral hygiene? These could be warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. Long-term buildup of dental tartar is a silent threat that’s more dangerous than you might think. If left untreated, it can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease.
In this article, Konvy Dental Clinic has compiled essential information to help you understand what dental scaling is, the latest dental scaling prices, and to answer one of the most common questions: Does dental scaling hurt?—so you can prepare for your dental visit with confidence.
What is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is a professional dental procedure used to remove dental tartar (calculus)—also known as hardened plaque or salivary stone—from both above and below the gumline. Tartar is a hard deposit that cannot be removed by regular brushing. Dentists must use specialized dental instruments to carefully remove these deposits, restoring tooth cleanliness and reducing bacterial buildup that causes oral diseases.
How Plaque Turns into Tartar
Tartar begins with something very small called plaque—a thin, transparent film of food debris and bacteria that forms on teeth. If plaque is not properly removed within 24–48 hours, minerals in saliva begin to harden it. Over time, it firmly attaches to the tooth surface and becomes tartar, which can no longer be removed by brushing alone.
Warning Signs You Have Excessive Tartar Buildup
• Persistent bad breath: Brushing doesn’t eliminate the odor because bacteria are trapped in tartar deposits.
• Bleeding gums while brushing: Gums become irritated, inflamed, and weakened due to tartar pressure.
• Visible yellow, brown, or black deposits: Hard stains tightly attached near the gumline or between teeth.
What Happens If You Don’t Get Dental Scaling?
Many people believe tartar only affects appearance, but leaving it untreated can lead to serious oral health problems:
Gingivitis
Tartar irritates the gums, causing swelling, redness, and bleeding. If scaling is done at this stage, the gums can usually return to a healthy condition.
Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated, tartar spreads deeper beneath the gums, damaging the jawbone and periodontal ligaments. This can cause gum recession, exposed tooth roots, and even pus formation.
Chronic Bad Breath, Loose Teeth, and Tooth Loss
This is the most severe outcome. When the supporting structures of the teeth are destroyed, teeth may become loose and eventually require extraction.
🪥 1. Standard Scaling
Perfect for those with a normal amount of tartar who want to maintain healthy gums on a regular basis.
Our dentist uses an ultrasonic scaler that gently vibrates to remove tartar from the tooth surface and along the gum line, followed by polishing to leave your teeth smooth, clean, and refreshed.
Highlights:
• Effectively removes tartar and stains from tea or coffee
• Promotes healthy gums and fresher breath
• Quick and convenient — takes about 30–45 minutes
Recommended for:
Those who maintain regular oral hygiene and wish to scale their teeth every 6 months.
Price: Full-mouth scaling and polishing starts from 1,200 THB
🌬️ 2. Airflow Polishing
A “no-scrape” cleaning technology that uses a gentle combination of air pressure, fine powder, and water to remove stains and bacterial plaque effectively.
Ideal for those with sensitive teeth or gums, or for people with braces.
Highlights:
• Gentle and non-invasive — no pain or irritation
• Efficiently removes stains from tea, coffee, or smoking
• Teeth appear whiter and smoother instantly
Recommended for:
Those who are afraid of traditional scaling pain or prefer a softer, deeper clean.
Price: Full-mouth Airflow scaling and polishing starts from 2,000 THB
💨 3. EMS Airflow Scaling
Our premium cleaning service featuring advanced EMS Airflow technology from Japan, which precisely removes plaque and stains without damaging tooth enamel.
Highlights:
• Gentle, safe, and suitable for all types of teeth
• Deep cleaning — even in hard-to-reach areas and below the gum line
• Extremely comfortable — almost pain-free
• Ideal for patients with braces, retainers, or dental implants
Recommended for:
Those seeking a premium, high-precision cleaning experience with the gentlest technology available.
Price: Full-mouth EMS Airflow scaling and polishing starts from 3,500 THB
Can Dental Scaling Be Covered by Social Security?
For insured individuals, social security benefits can be used for dental scaling, with coverage of up to 900 THB per year. At our clinic, insured patients can use their benefits immediately without any advance payment. Simply bring your Thai ID card. If the treatment cost does not exceed the coverage limit, there is no additional out-of-pocket expense at all.
How Often Should You Get Dental Scaling?
The recommended frequency depends on your oral health condition and daily care habits:
General patients: Dental scaling is recommended every 6 months to routinely check oral health and remove plaque and tartar buildup.
Patients with braces or underlying medical conditions: People undergoing orthodontic treatment often have more difficulty maintaining oral hygiene. Those with conditions such as diabetes, which increases the risk of gum disease, may need to visit the dentist more frequently—about every 3–4 months.
Aftercare Tips Following Dental Scaling
Normal Post-Treatment Symptoms
It is normal to experience temporary tooth sensitivity or slight gum bleeding after scaling. These symptoms usually resolve on their own within 1–2 days. In cases of heavy tartar buildup, some patients may feel that their teeth are more spaced apart—this is simply because the tartar that was filling the gaps has been removed.
How to Prevent Tartar from Returning
To reduce the recurrence of tartar buildup, you should:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day
Use dental floss daily to remove plaque before it hardens into tartar again
🦷 Keep Your Smile Bright
At Konvy Dental Clinic, we recommend getting a professional scaling every 6 months to prevent long-term oral health problems — and to keep your smile fresh and confident every day.
