As a result of poor brushing technique and lack of oral hygiene, plaque and tartar build up on the surfaces of teeth.  Plaque is a mass of bacteria mixed with partially broken down food that sticks to the surface of teeth.  

Tartar is hardened plaque, which is built up over an extended period of time. Without proper cleaning teeth can suffer from decay and gums can become infected and recede.  

By using special instruments to scale off the deposits, the surfaces can be cleaned of any bacterial residue and any underlying issues such as tooth decay and gum recession can be revealed and treated.