General Dentistry · Last reviewed May 2026
Scaling and Polishing That Actually
Cleans Properly.
Picasso Dental performs ultrasonic scaling and polishing across our six branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat, for mild tartar, for moderate, and for heavy buildup. Polishing-only visits are. We recommend a hygiene visit every 6 months. Every branch has English-speaking dentists, sterilised ultrasonic tips, and dedicated hygiene slots so you can walk in for a clean without booking a full exam package.
What is Scaling and Polishing?
Scaling and polishing is the routine hygiene visit that removes hardened tartar (calculus) from your teeth and clears surface stains. Brushing and flossing remove soft plaque, but plaque mineralises into tartar within 72 hours, and once it hardens, only a clinical scaler can take it off. Done every 6 months, scaling and polishing prevents the gum inflammation that quietly progresses into periodontitis.
Why Picasso for Cleaning
English-Speaking at Every Branch
All six Picasso branches across Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat have English-speaking dentists and front-desk staff. You can book in English by phone, WhatsApp or Zalo, no translation app needed.
Ultrasonic + Sterilised Tips
We use piezo-electric ultrasonic scalers with sterilised tips for every patient, processed through autoclaves to the same standard used in surgical instruments. No reused tips, no shortcuts on infection control.
Airflow Polishing for Stains
For heavy coffee, tea, wine or tobacco staining, we offer airflow polishing using a fine sodium bicarbonate or glycine powder spray. It reaches between teeth and along the gum line in places a rubber cup cannot.
Hygiene Visits Without a Full Package
You do not need a full new-patient exam to get a clean with us. Walk in or book a 45 minute hygiene slot directly. The general examination plus consultation is a separate service if you want it.
Six Branches, Same Standard
Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi West Lake, Da Nang Hoang Dieu, Da Nang Vinmec, Ho Chi Minh City Thao Dien and Da Lat. Same equipment, same protocols, same pricing across the network.
Honest Tartar Grading
We grade tartar as mild, moderate or heavy at the start of the visit and quote the matching price before we start. No moving the goalposts halfway through, and if a deep cleaning rather than a scale is what you actually need, we will say so.
Scaling and Polishing Pricing
Per-visit pricing from our published rate card. Tartar grade is assessed visually at the start of the visit, you see the price before we start.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Polishing only | |
| Children's scaling and polishing | |
| General examination + consultation | |
| Scaling and polishing: mild tartar | |
| Scaling and polishing: moderate tartar | |
| Scaling and polishing: heavy tartar | 500,000 – 600,000 |
| Scaling under local anaesthetic |
Need deeper cleaning below the gum line? See periodontitis treatment.
Mild vs Moderate vs Heavy Tartar
The three pricing bands reflect how much tartar has accumulated and how long the visit will take. Most patients on a 6-month schedule fall into the mild or moderate range.
Mild Tartar —
Light deposits along the lower front teeth and behind the upper molars, the typical pattern in patients who attend hygiene visits regularly. Single 30-minute appointment. Ultrasonic scale, polish, fluoride.
Moderate Tartar —
Tartar visible on multiple teeth, some staining, gums may bleed slightly during cleaning. Typical for patients who last had a clean 18 months ago. 45 minutes. Ultrasonic plus thorough hand scaling.
Heavy Tartar —
Significant tartar across most teeth, usually with inflamed gums and noticeable staining. Common in patients who have not had a hygiene visit in several years. Up to 60 minutes, sometimes split across two appointments to let gums settle.
Polishing Only —
If you have just had a recent scale elsewhere and only want surface stains removed, a polishing-only visit is 20 minutes. We will not perform polishing-only on tartar that should be scaled first, that is not a real clean.
Children's Scaling —
Gentler ultrasonic settings, child-sized instruments, and a focus on building good hygiene habits. Suitable from around age 6 once permanent teeth start erupting.
Under Local Anaesthetic —
Reserved for very sensitive patients or very heavy gum-line deposits where standard scaling would be too uncomfortable. Includes the local anaesthetic, extended chair time and slower instrumentation.
Scaling vs Deep Cleaning, Honestly
Scaling and polishing is a hygiene visit. Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is a periodontal treatment. They are not the same procedure, and pricing one as the other is one of the most common ways patients get under-treated.
Scaling and Polishing Is Right If
You have tartar above the gum line and just slightly below it.
Your gums are healthy or only mildly inflamed (gingivitis).
You have no measurable gum pockets deeper than 3mm.
You are on a routine 6-month preventive schedule.
You want surface stains removed for cosmetic reasons.
Priced depending on tartar grade.
You Need Deep Cleaning Instead If
You have measurable pockets of 4mm or more around your teeth.
Your gums bleed routinely when brushing or flossing.
You have visible gum recession or teeth that look longer.
X-rays show bone loss around tooth roots.
You have been told you have periodontitis (not just gingivitis).
See our periodontitis treatment page, deep cleaning is priced and scheduled separately under periodontal care.
How a Scaling Visit Works
Five steps over a 45 minute appointment. Walk-in slots are usually available the same day at most branches.
1. Medical History + Visual Exam
The dentist reviews any medications, pregnancy status and recent dental history, then visually inspects the gums, teeth and tongue to grade tartar level (mild, moderate or heavy) and check for bleeding points. You see the price band before we start.
2. Ultrasonic Scaling Above the Gum Line
A piezo-electric ultrasonic scaler is used to break up and flush out hard tartar deposits from the visible tooth surface and just below the gum margin. Water cooling keeps the procedure comfortable.
3. Hand Scaling for Missed Deposits
Fine hand instruments are used to clear any tartar the ultrasonic tip could not reach, particularly between teeth and at the gum line. This is the step that determines how clean the result actually feels.
4. Polishing or Airflow
A fine polishing paste with a soft rubber cup, or an airflow powder system using sodium bicarbonate spray, removes surface stains from coffee, tea, wine and tobacco and leaves the enamel smooth.
5. Fluoride + Aftercare Advice
A fluoride varnish or gel is applied to the cleaned surfaces, and the dentist gives tailored brushing, flossing and interdental advice based on what they saw during the clean.
Booking the Next Visit
For most patients, the next hygiene visit is 6 months out. Heavy tartar formers may be recalled at 4 months; light formers can sometimes stretch to 9. We set the recall during checkout.
Aftercare
Most patients are back to normal eating within an hour. A few simple precautions in the first 24 hours protect the polished surface.
Avoid Stain-Heavy Food and Drink for 24 Hours
Coffee, tea, red wine, beetroot, curry, soy sauce and dark berries can re-stain freshly polished enamel quickly. Skip them for the first day, especially if you had airflow polishing.
Mild Sensitivity is Normal
For the first 48 hours after a heavy clean, teeth may be slightly sensitive to cold. This settles on its own. A sensitivity toothpaste used twice daily speeds the recovery.
Brush Gently the First Day
Gums may be tender at the margin, particularly if there was inflammation before the visit. Use a soft brush and gentle circular motion for the first 24 hours, then return to your normal technique.
Wait 60 Minutes After Fluoride
If a fluoride varnish was applied at the end of the visit, wait 60 minutes before eating, drinking or rinsing so the fluoride has time to bond to the enamel surface.
Floss Daily, Brush Twice
The clean resets the baseline. Daily flossing or interdental brushing plus twice-daily brushing is what keeps tartar from rebuilding before the next 6-month visit.
Return in 6 Months
The single biggest predictor of long-term gum health is consistent 6-month hygiene visits. We will message a recall reminder when your next visit is due.
When to Add Local Anaesthetic
Standard scaling does not need anaesthetic for most patients. There are two situations where we recommend the scaling-under-local-anaesthetic option instead.
Very Sensitive Teeth or Gums
If exposed root surfaces, gum recession or general dentine hypersensitivity make a routine clean uncomfortable, local anaesthetic lets us complete the scale properly in one sitting rather than rushing the painful zones. The fee covers the anaesthetic and the longer chair time.
Heavy Gum-Line Deposits
When tartar has built up substantially below the gum margin and the surrounding gum is inflamed, working through it without anaesthetic is uncomfortable and the result is often incomplete. A single anaesthetised visit removes the deposit fully, gums heal cleanly afterwards, and you reset to a normal preventive schedule.
Your Hygiene Team
Routine scaling and polishing visits are performed by our general dentists, with clinical standards set by our founding director.
Dr. Thao Tran
General Dentist. Routine hygiene visits, scaling and polishing, preventive care, fluoride application and home-care coaching.
Dr. Nhung Duong
General Dentist. Hygiene visits, scaling and polishing, children's cleans, and routine examination and consultation.
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director. Sets group-wide standards for hygiene protocols, sterilisation and infection control across all six branches.
Common Questions
Does dental scaling hurt?
For mild and moderate tartar, scaling is typically not painful, most patients describe vibration, water spray and a light scratching sensation. For heavy tartar near the gum line, you may feel sensitivity or brief sharp moments, which is why we offer scaling under local anaesthetic at for very sensitive patients or heavy deposit cases.
Will scaling loosen my teeth?
No. Scaling removes the hardened tartar that has been wedged against your teeth, sometimes for years. After a heavy clean, teeth can feel slightly different because that crust is gone, but the teeth themselves are unchanged. If teeth genuinely feel loose afterwards, it usually means the underlying gum disease was already advanced and the tartar was masking the mobility.
How long does a scaling visit take?
A standard mild-to-moderate scaling and polishing takes 45 minutes. Heavy tartar cases can take up to an hour, and may be split across two visits if there is significant gum bleeding to manage. Polishing-only appointments take about 20 minutes.
Why do I need scaling every 6 months?
Plaque mineralises into tartar within 72 hours, and once it hardens, brushing alone cannot remove it. The 6-month interval is the point at which most patients have accumulated enough subgingival tartar to start irritating the gums but not yet enough to cause permanent damage. Heavy tartar formers may need 4 month intervals; some light formers can stretch to 9 months.
Can I scale my teeth at home?
We strongly advise against it. The picks and ultrasonic devices sold online cannot reach subgingival deposits where it actually matters, and they very commonly scratch the enamel and traumatise the gum margin. The result is teeth that feel polished on top but have inflamed gums and damaged enamel underneath. Leave scaling to a clinical visit.
Can I have scaling during pregnancy?
Yes, in fact a hygiene visit during pregnancy is recommended because hormonal changes increase gum inflammation and bleeding (pregnancy gingivitis). The second trimester is the most comfortable window. We avoid elective X-rays during pregnancy and use anaesthetic only when necessary.
Will scaling and polishing whiten my teeth?
Polishing removes external surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco, so your teeth often look noticeably brighter immediately after. This is not whitening, the natural shade of your enamel does not change. For a true shade lift, see professional teeth whitening, which we sequence after a hygiene visit so the gel works on a clean surface.
What is the difference from a deep cleaning?
Scaling and polishing is a preventive hygiene visit, focused above and just below the gum line. Deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, is a periodontal treatment that goes deeper to clean infected pockets around teeth where gum disease has already taken hold. Deep cleaning usually requires local anaesthetic and is priced separately under periodontitis treatment, not under routine hygiene.
Can I eat after scaling?
Yes. If fluoride was applied, we recommend waiting 60 minutes before eating or drinking. Avoid coffee, red wine, beetroot, curry and other heavily pigmented foods for 24 hours so the freshly polished enamel does not pick up stain immediately.
Why are my gums bleeding during scaling?
Bleeding during scaling means your gums were already inflamed (gingivitis) before the visit. The cleaning is not causing the bleeding, it is exposing it. Two weeks after a thorough scale, with good home brushing and flossing, gum tissue typically firms up and stops bleeding. If bleeding persists, it points toward periodontitis and a deep cleaning visit may be needed.
Book Your Clean
A Proper Clean,
.
Walk in or book a 45 minute hygiene slot at any of our six branches across Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat. English-speaking dentists, ultrasonic and airflow polishing, transparent tartar grading before we start.