Most dentists recommend a prophylaxis cleaning once every six months to ensure plaque has not begun to build up on the surface of the teeth and to clean off hardened plaque if it already has developed.

If an excess of plaque begins to build up over time without being properly cleaned off, it can harden and turn into tartar or calculus and has the potential of causing gum disease and other serious oral health complications. When this occurs, a scaling and root planing is needed to ensure that the hardened plaque is cleaned off.

Periodontal maintenance generally includes frequent visits to the dentist to clean the entire area of the mouth. It is usually performed over a specified amount of time or until all oral health concerns are properly dealt with and the symptoms of gum disease are managed and fully under control.