Scale and clean in Bacchus Marsh, without the rush.
A scale and clean removes the plaque and hardened tartar that brushing and flossing leave behind, and gives your dentist a close look at your gums. At our Gisborne Road clinic we offer four ways to clean, from a routine maintenance visit to Airflow® Guided Biofilm Therapy and Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy, and we'll explain which one your gums need.
Healthy teeth start with healthy gums.
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. When it isn't fully removed it hardens into tartar, and tartar can only be removed with professional instruments.
This page is one part of our everyday general dentistry in Bacchus Marsh, alongside the rest of the care we provide.
Tartar along the gumline irritates the gums and is linked to bleeding, gum disease and bad breath. A professional clean removes it, and the check-up that goes with it lets your dentist spot early changes in your teeth and gums while they are still simple to manage. Gum problems are common. In 2017–18, around 3 in 10 Australian adults (29%) had gingivitis, the mild form of gum disease, and moderate or severe periodontitis became more common with age, from 12% of 15–34 year olds to 69% of people aged 75 and over, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (report updated August 2026).
At Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh, each hygiene visit starts with a look at your gums and soft tissues and a gum pocket check, and there is time to talk about what we find. Many people need only a maintenance clean every six months, and routine visits make a difference: adults who last saw a dentist for a problem were more likely to have moderate or severe periodontitis than those who last went for a check-up (37% compared with 26%). Others do better with Airflow® Guided Biofilm Therapy, a deep clean or laser-assisted care. We explain the reason for any recommendation and give you an itemised quote before we begin.
Gum disease often doesn't hurt in its early stages, so many people don't notice it. Regular six-monthly visits are one of the simplest ways to catch it early, when it is easiest to treat.
Different gums need different cleans.
Which clean suits you depends on your gum health, your dental history and what the gum pocket check shows. These are the four options our Bacchus Marsh team uses, with a short guide to each.
Maintenance Scale & Clean
The routine hygiene visit. Plaque, tartar and surface stain are removed with ultrasonic and hand instruments, then your teeth are polished. Suited to most adults with healthy gums.
Learn more →Deep Clean
A non-surgical treatment for gum disease. It cleans below the gumline along the roots so inflamed gums can settle and pockets can tighten. Usually done with local anaesthetic.
Learn more →Laser Clean · LAPT
Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy with the dual-wavelength Fotona LightWalker®. An option for diagnosed periodontal disease that targets bacteria inside the gum pocket.
Learn more →Airflow Clean
The EMS Airflow® Prophylaxis Master uses warm water, air and a fine erythritol powder to lift biofilm. Many patients find it more comfortable than scraping.
Learn more →Maintenance Scale & Clean
The preventive visit most adults need twice a year. We remove the build-up brushing can't reach and check your teeth and gums while we're there.
First your dentist examines your teeth, gums and soft tissues. Then an ultrasonic scaler loosens tartar, and hand instruments finish the work along and just under the gumline. A polishing paste lifts surface stain, we floss between your teeth, and a fluoride treatment may be applied to help strengthen enamel.
A routine scale and clean usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, and can run to an hour if there is heavier build-up or it has been a while since your last clean. Your teeth should feel smooth and clean afterwards.
Deep Clean · Scaling & Root Planing
When gum pockets have deepened and the gums are inflamed, a routine clean can't reach the problem. A deep clean works below the gumline, along the tooth roots.
Scaling and root planing is the standard non-surgical treatment for gingivitis and early to moderate periodontitis. It is usually recommended when gum pockets measure 4 mm or deeper. The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, then plaque and tartar are cleaned from the root surfaces and the roots are smoothed so the gums can heal against them.
Treatment is often split over two visits, one side of the mouth at a time. Your teeth may feel sensitive for a few days. We then review your gums around six to eight weeks later to check how they have healed.
A deep clean is recommended only after an examination and a full gum chart. Results depend on how advanced the gum disease is and on your care at home.
Laser Clean · LAPT
Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy uses focused laser light to treat inside the gum pocket, as an option for people with diagnosed gum disease who want to avoid flap surgery where possible.
LAPT is carried out with the Fotona LightWalker® dental laser, which has two wavelengths. The Er:YAG wavelength is used to remove infected tissue and deposits from the pocket and root surface. The Nd:YAG wavelength reaches deeper into the gum to reduce bacteria and support the clot that forms as the area heals.
This is not a routine clean. It is used for diagnosed periodontal disease, as part of a wider plan that includes professional cleaning, advice on home care and regular maintenance visits. You'll need a consultation and examination before it is recommended.
Results of laser-assisted periodontal therapy differ between patients and depend on how advanced the disease is. Your dentist will explain your suitability and the risks for your case before treatment.
Airflow Clean · GBT
If a traditional clean leaves you tense, Airflow is worth asking about. Warm water, air and a fine erythritol powder lift biofilm and surface stain with much less scraping.
The EMS Airflow® Prophylaxis Master is a Swiss-made system at the centre of Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT). GBT follows set steps: a disclosing solution first shows where the bacterial film sits, and then it is removed precisely from those areas.
A slim, low-pressure PERIOFLOW® nozzle reaches into gum pockets and around dental implants without scratching the implant surface. That makes Airflow a good fit for implant maintenance, for people with braces, and for sensitive teeth or gums.
Most people describe it as warm and gentle, without the cold spray or scraping sound of a traditional clean, and with little sensitivity afterwards.
The four options side by side.
You won't need every option. This table compares them on the things patients ask about most. Your dentist will recommend one based on your gums, your history and what you prefer.
| At a glance | MaintenanceScale & Clean | DeepRoot Planing | LaserLAPT | AirflowGBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suits | Healthy gums, routine care | Gingivitis & early periodontitis | Diagnosed periodontal disease | Sensitive teeth, implants, braces |
| Typical time | 30–60 min | 60–90 min × 2 visits | Varies · several visits | 45–60 min |
| Anaesthetic | Not usually needed | Local anaesthetic used | Often not needed | Not usually needed |
| Method | Ultrasonic + hand instruments + polish | Cleaning below the gumline, root smoothing | Er:YAG + Nd:YAG laser energy | Warm water, air, erythritol powder |
| Around implants | Yes, with care | Yes, adjusted technique | Yes | Well suited to implants |
| Next clean | Every 6 months | Every 3–4 months | Maintenance plan | Every 3–6 months |
Your visit, step by step.
Whether it's your first clean with us or your tenth, each visit at our Bacchus Marsh clinic follows the same steps, so you always know what comes next.
Catch up
We ask about any sensitivity, bleeding gums, recent dental work or new medicines since your last visit.
Examine & chart
A check of your gums and soft tissues, an oral cancer screen and gum pocket measurements, noting any changes.
Clean
A traditional scale and clean, Airflow or a deep clean, chosen for your gums and explained as we go.
Plan the next visit
A plain summary of what we found and what we recommend next, with your next clean booked before you leave.
A little reward for keeping up.
Regular cleans look after your teeth, and our Frequent Smiles program says thank you. Keep your six-monthly hygiene visits through the Magical Smiles app and receive whitening syringes twice a year.
Your own whitening trays after your first completed clean and Frequent Smiles sign-up in the app.
Keep up your six-monthly check-up & clean and receive two professional whitening syringes each time.
Scale and clean questions.
The questions we hear most from families in Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Maddingley and Melton.
Book your clean in Bacchus Marsh.
Saturday appointments available. HICAPS claims on the spot, most major health funds, and Afterpay, Zip, humm and SuperCare accepted.
Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
Saturday · 9am – 5pm