Is scaling very painful?

For most people scaling is not painful enough to need anesthesia. That said, it can feel sensitive or stinging if you have a lot of tartar, severe gum inflammation, or exposed tooth roots. If you are sensitive to pain, topical (gargle) anesthesia can reduce the discomfort, so please tell us in advance. Another option is a light scaling without anesthesia first, then a second appointment for gum treatment under anesthesia to remove the remaining tartar. If your anxiety is severe, treatment under conscious sedation while you sleep is also possible. The more regularly you come, the less tartar there is to remove and the less discomfort you feel. However, if pain lasts more than a few days after scaling, the gum inflammation may be deep, so an additional examination is advisable.