Deep cleaning scaling and root planing in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Deep cleaning, scaling and root planing is the standard first treatment for gum disease (periodontitis). In scaling, the dentist or hygienist removes plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) from the tooth surfaces, including below the gum line where a normal clean cannot reach. In root planing, the root surfaces are smoothed so that the gum can reattach and bacteria find it harder to stick. The work is done with ultrasonic instruments and fine hand tools called curettes, usually under local anaesthetic. Dental clinics in Turkey offer it on its own or as the first stage before gum surgery, fillings or implants.
This guide explains what the treatment does, how it differs from a routine scale and polish, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, what it feels like, how healing goes and how to check a clinic. It is general information, not dental advice. The wider choice of care is described in our dental treatments in Turkey overview.
What problem does a deep clean treat?
Gum disease starts as gingivitis, with red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush, and can progress to periodontitis, in which bacteria and the body's response destroy the bone and fibres that hold teeth. The gum pulls away from the tooth and forms pockets; the deeper the pocket, the harder it is to clean at home. Signs include persistent bad breath, bleeding gums, gum recession, longer-looking teeth, a bad taste, loose teeth and gaps opening between the teeth. Periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Deep cleaning aims to stop the disease progressing by removing the bacterial deposits that drive it; it cannot regrow lost bone.
A deep clean is not the same as a routine scale and polish. A routine scale and polish removes plaque and tartar from above and just below the gum line in healthy or mildly inflamed mouths. Deep cleaning treats pockets of 4 mm or more around the roots, takes longer, is done in sections of the mouth, and normally needs local anaesthetic. It is a therapy for an infection rather than a cosmetic or preventive visit, and it is followed by a reassessment to check whether pockets have closed.
How is scaling and root planing performed step by step?
The dentist first measures the pocket depths around every tooth with a fine probe, takes X-rays and records bleeding. The treatment is then done in one to four visits, often by half or quarter of the mouth. Local anaesthetic is given to the gum, and then an ultrasonic scaler breaks up tartar with vibration and water spray, while hand instruments smooth the roots under the gum. The area is rinsed, and sometimes an antiseptic gel or an antibiotic is placed in deep pockets. Each visit lasts about 45 to 90 minutes. You are given advice on brushing, interdental cleaning and sometimes a prescription mouthwash.
Does deep cleaning work, and what does the evidence say?
Yes. Scaling and root planing is well supported as the first-line treatment for periodontitis: reviews show that it reduces bleeding, pocket depth and inflammation and slows the loss of attachment. Results depend heavily on what you do afterwards. Without good daily cleaning, and regular maintenance visits every three to six months, the bacteria return. Deeper pockets, smoking and uncontrolled diabetes reduce the response. Antibiotics and laser or photodynamic add-ons have mixed evidence and are not a replacement for thorough instrumentation. If pockets stay deep after healing, gum surgery may be needed; see our guides to gum surgery and gingivectomy.
Does it hurt? The treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure and vibration but not sharp pain. Anxious patients can ask about sedation. After the anaesthetic wears off the gums are tender for two to three days, and teeth may be sensitive to cold as the roots are exposed; simple painkillers and a desensitising toothpaste usually help. Bleeding on brushing continues for a few days and should reduce over the following one to two weeks as inflammation subsides.
Deep cleaning scaling and root planing cost and price in Turkey
The figures below are approximate ranges for a full-mouth treatment, not clinic quotes. Each clinic confirms its own price after an examination and X-rays.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €100 – €500 |
| United Kingdom | €250 – €1,000 |
| United States | €800 – €2,400 |
| Germany | €200 – €900 |
The price changes with how many teeth and pockets are treated, whether the work is done by a dentist or a periodontist, the use of laser or antibiotics, and whether the quote includes the examination, X-rays and a follow-up check. Ask for a written plan with the number of visits. Remember that the cleaning is only the beginning: a full gum-health plan also includes home-care coaching and maintenance visits.
Scale and polish, deep cleaning or gum surgery?
Which treatment you need depends on the pocket depth and the amount of bone loss, and the dentist will explain the reasoning from your measurements and X-rays.
| Treatment | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Routine scale and polish | Healthy gums or mild gingivitis | Does not treat pockets beneath the gum |
| Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) | Periodontitis with pockets of about 4 mm or more | Needs home care and maintenance; cannot regrow bone |
| Gum surgery (flap, gingivectomy) | Deep pockets that remain after a deep clean | A surgical procedure with a longer healing time |
Who needs a deep clean, and who should wait?
You may need one if the dentist finds pockets of 4 mm or deeper with bleeding, tartar below the gum line or bone loss on X-rays. Treating gum disease before fillings, crowns or implants gives those restorations a healthier base; see tooth restoration and dental implants. Tell the dentist if you have diabetes, heart valve disease, take blood thinners or have had joint replacements, because some patients need medical advice or antibiotics beforehand. Smokers should know that smoking slows healing and reduces success. Pregnancy and acute infections may mean the timing is adjusted.
Can you have a deep clean during a short trip to Turkey?
Often yes, because the instrumentation can be completed within one to four appointments over two to four days. The catch is the reassessment: the gums need about six to twelve weeks to heal before the dentist re-measures the pockets and decides whether more treatment is needed. If you are travelling for a bigger programme, such as implants or crowns, the dentist will normally do the deep clean first and plan the rest around it. Ask how the clinic will see the reassessment, either at your next visit or through a dentist at home who is willing to do it, and keep your X-rays and pocket chart.
What results can you expect, and what is the aftercare?
Healthy gums are pale pink, firm and do not bleed when brushed. After a successful deep clean, many people notice less bleeding, fresher breath and gums that look tighter within a few weeks. Gums may recede a little as swelling goes down, making teeth look longer and spaces between them more visible, which is a normal outcome rather than a failure. Aftercare includes brushing twice a day with a soft brush, cleaning between teeth daily, avoiding smoking, rinsing with prescribed mouthwash if given and returning for maintenance every three to six months. The results are not permanent without this routine.
What are the risks of scaling and root planing?
The treatment is considered low risk. Common effects are soreness, bleeding, temporary sensitivity and gum recession. Less common problems are infection, a need for antibiotics or a rare abscess, loosening of teeth that were already weak and an incomplete response in deep pockets. Dental authorities such as the British Society of Periodontology and the American Academy of Periodontology advise that treatment be provided by a trained dental professional with a clear maintenance plan. Contact the clinic if you have swelling, fever or worsening pain.
How do you choose a clinic, and what are the red flags?
Look for a dentist or periodontist who records pocket depths and X-rays before treating, explains the stages of treatment and the maintenance plan and uses sterile single-use or sterilised instruments. Be wary of a quote that appears without an examination, a promise of a cure for gum disease, an offer to extract teeth rather than treat them when it is not clearly necessary, and a clinic that cannot say who will do the reassessment. Read how our process works and send any X-rays or reports through the free quote page for a written plan.
Questions to ask the clinic
- What are my pocket depths, and how many teeth need treatment?
- How many visits will it take, and will I have local anaesthetic?
- Who will check the results after healing, and when?
- What is included in the price, and what are the extra costs?
- What maintenance schedule do you recommend for me?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a treatment for gum disease in which plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth and below the gum line, and the root surfaces are smoothed. It is normally done under local anaesthetic with ultrasonic and hand instruments.
Root planing smooths the exposed root surfaces of the teeth after tartar has been removed. A smoother root makes it harder for bacteria to attach and helps the gum reattach to the tooth.
You will have local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure and vibration, not sharp pain. The gums are tender and teeth sensitive for a few days afterwards, which simple painkillers and a sensitive-teeth toothpaste usually ease.
Approximate full-mouth ranges are €100 to €500 in Turkey, against about €250 to €1,000 in the UK. The price depends on the number of teeth and pockets and on what the quote includes, so ask for it in writing.
Yes. A scale and polish cleans above and just below the gum line in healthy mouths. Deep cleaning treats infected pockets around the roots, takes several visits and normally needs local anaesthetic.
Soreness and bleeding settle in a few days, and gums look healthier within one to two weeks. The dentist usually checks your pockets again after about six to twelve weeks to see whether more treatment is needed.
It controls the infection and can stop progression, but periodontitis is a long-term condition. Good home cleaning and regular maintenance visits are needed to keep it stable, and lost bone does not grow back by itself.
Gums can recede a little as swelling goes down, making teeth look longer and spaces more visible. This is common after treating inflamed gums and does not mean the treatment failed.
Not usually. Instrumentation is the main treatment, and antibiotics are reserved for particular cases such as certain heart conditions or aggressive disease. The dentist will advise based on your health history.
Two to four days usually covers the examination and one to four cleaning visits. The reassessment after six to twelve weeks needs a separate visit or a dentist at home.