Stops Gum Disease
Deep cleaning clears the bacteria driving gum disease, halting its progress before it damages the bone and tissue that support your teeth.
Accepting New Patients
Have your gums started to bleed, swell, or pull away from your teeth? A deep cleaning can stop gum disease in its tracks and help your gums heal. Dr. Zhang uses gentle, precise techniques to clear away harmful bacteria below the gumline with scaling and root planing in Fullerton, CA.
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Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, is a treatment for gum disease that reaches below the gumline. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth, while root planing smooths the root surfaces so your gums can reattach and heal. This deeper level of cleaning stops gum disease from progressing and protects the bone and tissue that support your smile.
Deep cleaning clears the bacteria driving gum disease, halting its progress before it damages the bone and tissue that support your teeth.
Smoothing the tooth roots helps inflamed gums heal and reattach, reducing pockets where harmful bacteria collect over time.
Treating gum disease early protects the foundation of your smile, lowering your risk of loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.
Removing bacteria and buildup below the gumline addresses a common source of persistent bad breath, leaving your mouth feeling cleaner.
From your first exam to the final result, here's exactly what to expect — calm, clear, and never rushed.
Request an AppointmentWe measure the pockets around your teeth and assess the health of your gums to confirm that a deep cleaning is the right treatment.
We gently numb the area so you stay relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure, even in more sensitive spots.
Using precise instruments, we remove plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and below the gumline where buildup collects.
We smooth the root surfaces so your gums can reattach and heal, making it harder for bacteria to return.
We schedule a check to monitor your healing and may recommend a maintenance plan to keep your gums healthy long term.
Gums that bleed regularly when you brush or floss are one of the earliest and most common signs of gum disease.
Gums that pull away from your teeth, making them look longer, can signal that gum disease is progressing below the surface.
Ongoing bad breath or a bad taste can point to bacteria collecting in deep pockets around your teeth.
Teeth that feel loose or have started to shift may indicate that gum disease has begun to affect the supporting bone.


Our patients return year after year for calm, unhurried care and honest, personalized guidance.
We go above and beyond to make deep cleanings – srp feel calm and effortless — pairing the latest technology with a gentle, unhurried approach designed entirely around you.
Here are just a few reasons our patients love us:
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A deep cleaning is often completed in one or two visits, depending on how much buildup is present and how many areas need treatment. Dr. Zhang will let you know what to expect at your evaluation.
With a deep cleaning and good home care, inflamed gums often become firmer and healthier over the following weeks. We will monitor your healing and recommend a maintenance schedule to protect your results.
Consistent brushing and flossing, regular cleanings, and following any maintenance plan we recommend are the best ways to keep gum disease from returning after treatment.
The cost of scaling and root planing depends on how many areas of your mouth need treatment and the severity of your gum disease, since the procedure is often performed and billed by quadrant. Because it’s a therapeutic treatment rather than a cosmetic one, many dental insurance plans cover a meaningful portion of the cost. Fullerton Smile Dentistry also offers financing to keep care affordable. You’ll receive a clear, personalized estimate at your evaluation so you know exactly what to expect.
Most patients are relieved to find the procedure far more comfortable than they expected. Before treatment begins, the area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you typically feel little to nothing while plaque and tartar are removed and the roots are smoothed. Modern ultrasonic tools also make the process gentler than it used to be. Afterward, some mild soreness or sensitivity for a day or two is normal and easily managed. Fullerton Smile Dentistry takes care to keep you comfortable throughout.
Scaling and root planing itself is usually done once to address active gum disease, though more involved cases may be treated across more than one visit. What matters most afterward is ongoing upkeep. Following your deep cleaning in Fullerton, CA, the team will typically recommend periodontal maintenance visits every three to four months—more frequent than standard twice-yearly cleanings—to keep the gum pockets stable and prevent the disease from returning. How often you need them depends on how well your gums respond and stay healthy.
Stop gum disease and protect your smile. The sooner gum disease is treated, the more of your natural smile you can protect. Dr. Zhang and our team make deep cleaning gentle, thorough, and comfortable.
25+ Years of Care