Located at 20 Old Brompton Road – Just Steps from 
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Cleaning Types Comparison
Two types of professional cleaning designed for different levels of gum health. We explain exactly what each involves so you can understand which one you need.
Many patients are unsure whether they need a standard hygiene clean or something more intensive. The terms “scale and polish”, “deep cleaning”, and “periodontal treatment” can feel confusing — and it is perfectly reasonable to want clarity on what each involves and whether it applies to you.
In simple terms, routine hygiene cleaning is preventive care — a regular teeth cleaning appointment designed to keep healthy gums healthy. Periodontal cleaning is therapeutic care — a deeper, more intensive treatment designed to manage diagnosed gum disease and prevent it from progressing.
The type of cleaning you need depends entirely on the current condition of your gums, which can only be determined through a clinical assessment by a qualified dental professional. Below, we compare both approaches so you can understand the key differences and know what to expect.
If you are concerned about your gum health or unsure which treatment you need, book a consultation with our GDC-registered hygienists. We will assess your gums and recommend the right level of care for you.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Costs are approximate UK private ranges and may vary by location, practice, and clinical complexity. Treatment suitability depends on individual gum health assessment.
Preventive Care
Routine hygiene cleaning — commonly known as a scale and polish — is a standard preventive appointment carried out by a GDC-registered dental hygienist. The primary goal is to remove plaque, tartar (calculus), and surface stains from your teeth, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss alone.
This type of cleaning focuses on the surfaces of your teeth above the gumline and within shallow gum pockets. It is designed to maintain good oral health, prevent gum problems from developing, and keep your smile looking and feeling its best. Your hygienist will also provide personalised advice on brushing technique and interdental care.
Routine hygiene cleaning is suitable for patients with generally healthy gums, those with mild gingivitis (early gum inflammation), anyone who wants to maintain clean teeth and prevent problems, and patients who attend regular hygiene appointments as part of their ongoing dental care routine.
Therapeutic Care
Periodontal cleaning — often referred to as deep cleaning or root surface debridement — is a more intensive procedure designed to treat gum disease (periodontitis). Unlike a routine scale and polish, periodontal cleaning reaches below the gumline into deep gum pockets where bacteria, tartar, and toxins have accumulated and are actively damaging the supporting structures of your teeth.
During the procedure, your hygienist uses specialised instruments to carefully clean the root surfaces of your teeth, removing hardened deposits and smoothing the root to help your gums reattach and heal. Local anaesthetic is commonly used to ensure comfort, and the treatment may be spread across multiple appointments depending on the severity of the condition.
Periodontal cleaning is indicated for patients who have been diagnosed with periodontitis, those with gum pockets deeper than 4mm, patients experiencing persistent gum bleeding, swelling, or recession, anyone with tartar build-up below the gumline, and patients referred by their dentist for periodontal management.
Detailed Breakdown
This is the fundamental distinction. Routine hygiene cleaning is preventive — it maintains healthy gums and prevents disease from developing. Periodontal cleaning is therapeutic — it actively treats diagnosed gum disease. Think of it this way: routine cleaning keeps you well, while periodontal cleaning helps you recover.
Routine cleaning focuses on the visible tooth surfaces and shallow gum pockets (typically 1–3mm deep). Periodontal cleaning goes significantly deeper — into pockets of 4mm or more where tartar, bacteria, and toxins accumulate below the gumline. These deeper areas are impossible to clean with standard scaling alone.
Routine cleaning helps maintain already-healthy gums and can reverse mild gingivitis. Periodontal cleaning addresses more serious conditions — reducing inflammation, decreasing pocket depths, and helping gum tissue heal and reattach to the tooth roots. Without deep cleaning, periodontitis will typically worsen over time.
A routine scale and polish is a straightforward, comfortable procedure that rarely requires anaesthetic. Periodontal cleaning is more complex — it involves working below the gumline, often with local anaesthetic, and may require multiple appointments to treat different areas of the mouth (sometimes referred to as quadrant-by-quadrant treatment).
Routine hygiene cleaning typically costs £50–£130 per session in the UK. Periodontal cleaning is more expensive — typically £150–£500+ for a full course of treatment — reflecting the additional time, complexity, and clinical expertise required. However, the cost of treating gum disease early is significantly less than the cost of managing advanced periodontitis or replacing lost teeth.
Routine cleaning is typically recommended every 3–6 months as ongoing preventive care. After periodontal treatment, patients usually transition to a periodontal maintenance schedule — typically every 3–4 months — which is more frequent and thorough than standard cleaning. Some patients may eventually return to routine appointments as their gum health improves.
Weighing Up Your Options
UK Pricing
The cost difference between routine hygiene cleaning and periodontal cleaning reflects the significant difference in treatment complexity, time, and clinical expertise required. Here is a realistic breakdown:
£50 – £130
Per session (30–45 min)
Preventive maintenance
£150 – £500+
Per course (multiple visits)
Therapeutic gum treatment
It is important to understand that periodontal cleaning is not an optional upgrade — it is a clinically necessary treatment for patients with gum disease. The alternative — leaving periodontitis untreated — can lead to far greater costs through advanced gum surgery, bone grafts, tooth extraction, and replacement with implants or dentures.
For our current appointment pricing, see full treatment fees. We are always transparent about costs and happy to discuss your treatment plan before you commit.
Making Your Decision
Preventive, Comfortable Maintenance
→ Routine Hygiene Cleaning
If your gums are generally healthy, with no signs of deep pocketing, persistent bleeding, or bone loss, a routine scale and polish is all you need. Regular hygiene appointments every 3–6 months will keep plaque and tartar under control, prevent gum disease from developing, and keep your smile looking its best.
Deep, Therapeutic Cleaning
→ Periodontal Cleaning
If you have been diagnosed with periodontitis, or your hygienist has identified deep gum pockets (4mm or more), periodontal cleaning is the appropriate treatment. A standard scale and polish cannot reach the deep deposits causing your condition. Periodontal cleaning targets the root of the problem — literally — to help stabilise your gum health and prevent further damage.
Keeping Problems at Bay
→ Routine Cleaning (or Periodontal Maintenance)
For most patients, routine hygiene cleaning is the cornerstone of long-term oral health. For those who have completed periodontal treatment, a slightly more intensive maintenance schedule (typically every 3–4 months) helps ensure that gum disease does not return. Your hygienist will advise which maintenance level is right for you.
Value and Long-Term Savings
→ Routine Cleaning (Preventive Investment)
Routine hygiene cleaning is one of the most cost-effective investments in your dental health. At £50–£130 per session, it is far less expensive than treating the consequences of neglected oral care. If periodontal cleaning is clinically needed, however, delaying treatment will only increase costs and complexity later. Early intervention always represents better value.
The Bottom Line
The type of cleaning you need depends on the current health of your gums. If your gums are healthy, routine cleaning keeps them that way. If gum disease is present, periodontal cleaning is essential to prevent further damage. A clinical assessment is the only reliable way to determine which treatment is right for you — and we are here to help you find out.
Our GDC-registered hygienists will assess your gum health and recommend the right level of care for your individual needs. Whether you visit our South Kensington clinic or our dental hygienist city of london practice, you will receive a thorough assessment and a clear treatment plan.
Common Questions
Whether you need a routine clean or a more intensive periodontal treatment, our experienced hygienists will provide the right level of care for your gums. Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile — and it all starts with one appointment.
Professional cleaning recommended every 3–6 months. View our fees.
Registered & Regulated
Our dentists, dental hygienists, and dental nurses are all fully registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), and our clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) (Provider ID: 1-20629579981). We are committed to maintaining high standards of clinical governance, safety, and patient care.
Real reviews from our valued patients
These are selected patient reviews sourced from Google. Individual experiences and results may vary. Reviews reflect personal opinions and should not be taken as a guarantee of treatment outcomes. View all reviews on Google.
Melissa Nereide
Local Guide
Sophia Azzou
Susan Tracey
