A dental cleaning is performed by a dentist or hygienist and that usually last around 45 minutes. Dental cleanings include the removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth surface (scaling), polishing, and smoothing the root surface and a deep cleaning below the gumline (root planing) if needed.

Dental cleaning should occur every six months to ensure plaque build-up is kept in check. Modern scaling uses a combination of hand and advance electric scaling tools to increase cleaning effectiveness and efficiency.