9th April 2025
Scale and Polish vs Airflow: Which Dental Cleaning Treatment is Right for You?
When it comes to keeping your teeth clean and your breath fresh, there are more options available than ever before.
Two of the most popular professional dental cleaning treatments are the traditional scale and polish and the more modern airflow treatment. Understanding the differences between these two methods will help you decide which one suits your needs best.
At Yourdental Wellness in Islington and Maida Vale, we offer both options and can guide you through the decision-making process based on your specific oral health needs.
Understanding the Scale and Polish
The scale and polish has been a standard dental cleaning treatment for many years and remains a popular choice for patients. This method involves two key stages:
1. The Scaling Phase
Scaling is where the bulk of the cleaning takes place. Your hygienist will use special tools to remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) from the surfaces of your teeth, including areas below the gumline. While this was traditionally done with hand instruments completely, many modern practices, including Yourdental Wellness, now also use ultrasonic scalers, which use vibrations to break down stubborn tartar more efficiently.
“Scaling is effective at tackling hardened tartar that can’t be removed with regular brushing and flossing,” explains one of our hygienists. “This step is vital for maintaining healthy gums and teeth.“
2. The Polishing Phase
After scaling, your hygienist will polish your teeth using a soft, rotating rubber cup and a special polishing paste. This smooths out any minor imperfections, removes surface stains, and leaves your teeth with a glossy finish that helps slow the build-up of new plaque.
Introducing Airflow: A Modern Alternative
Airflow treatment is a more recent innovation in dental hygiene that uses a combination of compressed air, water, and fine powder particles to clean your teeth. It’s a gentle yet effective method that targets plaque, stains, and biofilm – essentially the bacteria that cause plaque – without the need for traditional scraping.
How Does Airflow Work?
During an airflow treatment, a fine powder is sprayed onto your teeth with pressurised air and water, gently removing plaque and stains. It’s often compared to a gentle “jet-washing” of your teeth. The process is more comfortable for many patients, especially those with sensitive teeth or dental anxiety, as it avoids the direct scraping associated with traditional polishing. Though scaling is still required for some if tartar buildup has occurred.
“Patients often love the immediate results they see with airflow,” says one of our dental hygienists. “It’s especially effective at removing stains from coffee, tea, and tobacco.”
Comparing the Two Methods: What’s Best for You?
Both scale and polish and airflow treatment have their advantages, and the right choice depends on your oral health needs.
For Tartar Removal
- Scale and Polish: This is the go-to treatment for removing hard, established tartar, especially from below the gumline. If you’ve had tartar build-up for a while, scaling will be more effective.
- Airflow: Airflow is great for preventing tartar build-up, but it’s less effective at removing stubborn, hardened deposits. Many patients who need tartar removal benefit from combining both methods.
For Stain Removal
- Scale and Polish: This method can remove surface stains, but it doesn’t work as well for deeper, more stubborn stains.
- Airflow: Airflow is ideal for removing stains from coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco. The fine powder can reach small crevices in the enamel, delivering impressive cosmetic results.
“Many of our patients are amazed by how much whiter their teeth look after an airflow treatment,” shares a hygienist at Yourdental Wellness. “It’s particularly effective for people who regularly drink tea or coffee.”
For Sensitive Teeth
- Scale and Polish: Some patients with sensitive teeth may find the mechanical scraping uncomfortable, although ultrasonic methods are generally gentler.
- Airflow: Airflow is often considered more comfortable, as it avoids direct contact with your teeth with metallic instruments. However, stubborn tartar cannot be removed.
For Dental Work (Implants, Braces, etc.)
- Scale and Polish: It can be tricky to clean around braces and other dental appliances. Scaling is also risky around implants and restorations, as it could scratch the surface if not done carefully.
- Airflow: Airflow is safe for most dental work, including implants and braces, due to the variety of powders available. It’s a great choice for cleaning around orthodontic appliances, where traditional tools may struggle to reach.
“Airflow is incredibly effective around braces,” says one of our dental professionals. “The fine spray can clean areas that are tough to reach with traditional tools.”
At Yourdental Wellness, we understand that comfort is key to a positive experience. For patients with dental anxiety, airflow is often preferred due to its gentler technique. There’s less noise, vibration, and pressure compared to the traditional scaling method, making it a more comfortable option for many people.
Many of our patients with dental anxiety have become regulars for airflow treatments because of the comfort it provides.
Time and Cost Considerations
- Scale and Polish: This treatment typically takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the amount of tartar. It’s usually covered by basic dental insurance plans.
- Airflow: Is normally combined with some level of ultrasonic cleaning, with treatment typically completed in 30-60 minutes. Airflow may be a premium service at some practices, but Yourdental Wellness includes it as part of our standard hygiene protocol without additional charges.
Which One is Right for You?
When deciding between scale and polish, and airflow, consider the following:
- Oral Health Status: If you have significant tartar buildup, traditional scaling is a better option.
- Cosmetic Concerns: For patients with stained teeth, airflow may provide more dramatic results.
- Comfort: If you experience discomfort with traditional cleaning methods, airflow may be a better fit.
- Existing Dental Work: For braces, implants, or restorations, airflow can be safer and more effective.
“We often combine both methods for the best results,” says a Yourdental Wellness hygienist. “For example, scaling is great for tartar removal, and we use airflow to tackle stains and biofilm afterwards.”
Book Your Treatment Today at Yourdental Wellness
At Yourdental Wellness, we’re here to help you decide which dental cleaning method is right for your smile. Whether you need a thorough scale and polish or prefer the gentle touch of airflow, we have the tools and expertise to support your oral health.
Contact us for an Appointment or visit our website for more information on how we can help keep your smile fresh.
