Teeth cleaning in Istanbul: scale and polish, deep cleaning and tartar control Tartar is cleaned off by a dentist without scratching the tooth surface, then your teeth are polished smooth.

Done properly, no. Professional cleaning removes deposits from the tooth surface, not healthy enamel. Harm comes from the wrong instrument or the wrong method, which can scratch the surface and let tartar build up faster. That is why our dentists use instruments that do not scratch the surface and finish with polishing. A little sensitivity and light bleeding afterwards do not mean damage.

Most people feel vibration, water and a mild ache. If your gums are very inflamed, your root surfaces are exposed or the tartar goes below the gum, it can be more sensitive. Tell your dentist if you are uncomfortable: the dentist pauses, or numbs the area.

A soft film of bacteria (plaque) builds up on teeth every day. Plaque that is left in place hardens into tartar, also called calculus. It can form within days to a couple of weeks, mostly where saliva reaches the teeth: the inside of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper back teeth. Brushing cannot remove it once it has hardened, so a dentist has to. Cleaning takes off what has built up; because plaque returns every day, tartar returns too. Brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular check-ups slow it down. For more, see our guide to tartar removal.

Tartar is usually loosened with a thin vibrating tip and a water spray, and fine hand instruments are used in tight spots and just under the gum line. The teeth are then polished. The time depends on the amount of tartar and the state of your gums. Many UK practices book 30 to 45 minutes for a hygiene visit. It is usually done in one appointment, but it can be split over several if there is a lot of tartar or deposits deep under the gum. Your dentist explains this after the examination.

Surfaces that tartar was covering are now exposed, so teeth can ache with cold for a while, and inflamed gums can bleed lightly when you brush. Both usually settle by themselves, often within a day or two. Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and keep brushing gently, even if the gums bleed. If bleeding increases, or sensitivity or swelling does not settle, contact us.

Cleaning does not make gums recede. Tartar can fill the spaces between teeth, and swollen gums can hide recession that inflammation caused earlier. Once the tartar is gone and the swelling goes down, those spaces show. Dentists explain that gums often tighten as they heal. Your dentist looks at your gums at the examination and tells you what to expect.

It is not the same for everyone. Your dentist sets the interval from how quickly tartar builds up on your teeth, your home care and the state of your gums; people who have had gum disease may need to be seen more often. There is no universal six-month rule. UK guidance (NICE) sets check-up intervals by risk, anywhere from 3 to 24 months for adults. A Cochrane review of people without severe gum disease also found that routine six- or twelve-monthly scale and polish made little or no difference to gum measures, though it did slightly reduce tartar. It does not apply to gum disease or heavy tartar.

No. Hardened tartar does not come off with a brush, floss or home mixtures. Abrasive or acidic mixtures such as bicarbonate, lemon or vinegar, and sharp metal tools, can damage enamel and gums. What you can do at home is remove plaque every day before it hardens: brush and clean between your teeth. Tartar-control toothpaste can slow new build-up, but it does not remove tartar that is already there.

Yes, cleaning can be done during pregnancy, when gums inflame and bleed more easily. Always tell us you are pregnant: your dentist plans X-rays, numbing and the timing of the appointment around it. Tell us too if you take blood-thinning medicine.

At İkon, professional cleaning and scaling is €75. That is our price list; no price is final until a dentist has examined you and seen how much tartar there is.

At İkon, deep cleaning is €150. Deep cleaning goes below the gum line and is a gum treatment, so it is planned separately and only if your examination shows you need it. Extra steps such as an X-ray or numbing are explained before treatment starts.

In England, a scale and polish is part of NHS dental care when it is clinically needed. From 1 April 2026 a Band 1 course costs £27.90, which covers a check-up and, where needed, scaling; Band 2 (£76.60) covers more extensive work such as gum treatment. A cleaning wanted only for appearance is private. Private clinics set their own prices, so compare what each includes.

In the UK, scale and polish is often done by a hygienist. At İkon, teeth cleaning is done by a dentist, who also examines your gums and tells you if you need a deeper treatment. You do not need to book anything separately: tell us what bothers you and we plan it.

A cleaning is usually done in one appointment. If there is a lot of tartar or deposits deep under the gum, it may be split into several. Your dentist explains this after the examination, and your written plan states the days and visits you would need, before you book flights.