01 Deep Cleaning
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Periodontist & Implantologist
Scaling and root planing, commonly called deep cleaning, removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths root surfaces so gum tissue can reattach. It's the standard first-line treatment once gum disease has gone beyond what a routine cleaning addresses.
At Clarus Dental Specialities in Koregaon Park, deep cleaning is performed directly by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Patients usually visit us for: gums that bleed when brushing tartar felt below the gumline a first diagnosis of gum disease gums that feel puffy or tender
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Gums suddenly swollen or painful? Emergency slots may be available the same day, subject to the clinic's schedule. Call to confirm.
Quick answer: Deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths root surfaces so inflamed gum tissue can reattach. It's different from a routine cleaning, which only addresses the visible tooth surface above the gumline. In Koregaon Park, Pune, deep cleaning is performed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, a US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Before You Book
But if you want treatment backed by science and done by a US Board Certified Specialist, you're in the right chair.
02 Overview
A routine cleaning removes plaque and light tartar from the visible tooth surface, above the gumline, as preventive care. Once gum disease has caused pockets to form between the tooth and gum, tartar builds up below the gumline where a routine cleaning can't reach.
Deep cleaning has two parts. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth and root surface below the gumline. Root planing smooths that root surface, removing rough areas where bacteria tend to collect, which helps inflamed gum tissue reattach more closely to the tooth.
It's typically done under local anaesthesia when pockets are deeper or the area is sensitive, often treated one section, or quadrant, of the mouth at a time.
03 Candidacy
Deep cleaning is recommended once periodontal charting shows pocket depths and tartar below the gumline that a routine cleaning can't address.
04 Background
A routine six-month cleaning is preventive, it keeps tartar from building up above the gumline in a healthy mouth. Once gum disease has caused the gum to separate slightly from the tooth, forming a pocket, tartar can build up in a space that regular cleaning instruments simply can't reach.
Deep cleaning uses instruments and techniques specifically suited to working below the gumline, within those pockets, which is what distinguishes it from a standard cleaning appointment.
05 Options
How treatment is staged depends on how much of the mouth is affected and how deep the pockets are.
The mouth is divided into sections and treated over separate visits, allowing each area time to heal and be assessed.
Less extensive cases can sometimes be completed in a single, longer visit.
Local anaesthesia is used for deeper pockets or more sensitive areas to keep the procedure comfortable.
06 Procedure
Pocket depths are measured to confirm deep cleaning is needed and to plan which areas to treat.
Applied to keep the area comfortable, particularly for deeper pockets.
Plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth and root surface below the gumline using hand instruments or ultrasonic tools.
The root surface is smoothed to remove rough areas where bacteria collect, helping gum tissue reattach.
The area is rinsed clean, and instructions are given for care at home until the follow-up visit.
07 Cost Factors
Cost depends on how much of the mouth needs treatment and how involved the disease is. It's discussed only after periodontal charting, once the following are known:
A specific estimate is only meaningful after periodontal charting. This section is informational and is not a quotation.
If you've already been told you need deep cleaning elsewhere, Dr. Neel is available to review your periodontal charting and share an independent assessment.
08 Aftercare
Mild soreness or sensitivity around the treated area is normal and settles within a day or two.
Softer foods and gentle brushing around the treated area are recommended while the gum tissue settles.
Gum tenderness typically resolves and the tissue begins to look and feel healthier.
Pocket depths are re-checked to see how the gums have responded.
09 Limits
Being clear about what to expect matters, particularly for more advanced cases:
10 Your Visit
The first appointment includes periodontal charting to confirm deep cleaning is the right treatment and to plan which areas need it. Treatment can often begin the same visit or shortly after, with clear guidance on what to expect afterward.
11 Why This Clinic
BDS (Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai) · Postgraduate periodontology training, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA · Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology (2008) · ITI Fellow, International Team for Implantology (2009)
More than two decades of treating gum disease at every stage sit behind Dr. Neel's title as Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist, one of only two in India.
Deep cleaning is treated as specialist periodontal care, not a routine hygiene visit.
Which areas need deep cleaning is based on measured pocket depths, not guesswork.
Follow-up charting confirms whether further care is needed, rather than assuming it worked.
The only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai.
Patients can also read independent reviews on Google and Practo.
12 Visit Us
This dentist and dental clinic in Koregaon Park also treats patients from nearby areas of Pune. See the full Koregaon Park clinic page →
13 International Patients
Clarus Dental Specialities is the only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai, and Dr. Neel holds a dual US-India dental license, giving NRI and overseas patients confidence in the periodontal care available here.
Deep cleaning is often completed within a single visit window, even when staged by quadrant, making it one of the more travel-friendly periodontal treatments available.
14 FAQ
Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the tooth and root surface below the gumline. Root planing smooths that surface afterward, removing rough areas where bacteria tend to collect.
Local anaesthesia is used where needed, particularly for deeper pockets, so the procedure itself isn't painful. Some soreness afterward is normal and settles within a day or two.
A regular cleaning is preventive and stays above the gumline. Deep cleaning treats existing gum disease by working below the gumline, where a routine cleaning can't reach.
It depends on how much of the mouth is affected. Some cases are completed in a single visit, while more involved cases are treated by quadrant over multiple visits.
Some tenderness or sensitivity is common for a day or two afterward and settles on its own. Softer foods and gentle brushing around the area help in the meantime.
For many cases, yes. Some sites with very deep pockets or significant bone loss may still need periodontal surgery, which is why reassessment after deep cleaning matters.
Gum tenderness and bleeding typically improve within about a week, though the full response is properly assessed at the four to six week follow-up.
1. Clinical literature on scaling and root planing outcomes, indexed on PubMed Central. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
2. Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar's peer-reviewed publications, indexed on PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Call or WhatsApp the clinic directly to ask questions or set up a periodontal consultation with Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar.
This page provides general dental information and does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment plan, or medical advice. Outcomes vary by individual case. No specific results, costs, or timelines are guaranteed. Please consult Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar or a qualified specialist for advice specific to your condition.
