In short
- One visit, usually 30 to 60 minutes, with a gum check first.
- Removes tartar (दन्ते पत्थर) above the gum line, then polishes the teeth.
- Teeth may feel sensitive and gums a little sore for a few days.
- Published Kathmandu Valley prices ranged from NPR 1,300 to 4,500 in October 2026.
- Deep cleaning under the gums is a separate gum treatment.
Is teeth cleaning right for me?
Teeth cleaning helps almost everyone, because plaque that is not brushed away hardens into tartar (calculus), and only a dental instrument can remove it. Brushing and flossing at home cannot take off hardened tartar (NHS).
It is a good idea if you notice:
- yellow or brown crust near the gum line, often behind the lower front teeth
- gums that bleed when you brush (गिजाबाट रगत)
- bad breath that does not go away
- stains from tea, tobacco or paan
Who it isn’t the right first step for:
- If you have strong toothache, a swollen face or a gum boil, you need an urgent visit first. See emergency dental care.
- If your gums have pulled away and teeth feel loose, a normal scale and polish is not enough. You likely need gum treatment, which cleans below the gum line. A dentist needs to examine you to know for sure.
- If you only want whiter teeth, cleaning removes surface stains but does not change tooth colour. That is teeth whitening.
What happens, step by step
Most cleanings take 30 to 60 minutes (Cleveland Clinic).
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Questions and a gum check. The dentist asks about bleeding, sensitivity, smoking or tobacco, and health conditions such as diabetes. They look at your teeth and gums. X-rays are taken only if needed.
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Scaling. An ultrasonic scaler vibrates the tartar off while a spray of water cools the tooth and washes debris away. Hand instruments clear what is left. You feel vibration and water, and a scraping feeling in places.
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Polishing. A soft rubber cup and a gritty paste smooth the surfaces so plaque sticks less and stains come off.
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Advice. You get tips on brushing and cleaning between your teeth, and the dentist suggests when to come back.
If you have heavy tartar or weak, loose teeth, the dentist may clean the mouth in sections over more than one visit (Onlinekhabar, Dr Biplav Adhikari).
If you feel nervous, say so at the start. You can agree a stop signal. Our nervous patients page explains what helps.
What’s included, and what may cost extra
| Usually part of a scale and polish | May cost extra |
|---|---|
| Gum and teeth check before cleaning | X-rays, if the dentist needs them |
| Scaling above the gum line | Deep cleaning below the gum line (gum treatment) |
| Polishing | Fillings for any decay found |
| Brushing and cleaning advice | Whitening |
Many Kathmandu price lists show X-rays as a separate item. Ask what is included before you start, and ask for the cost of anything extra before it is done.
How much teeth cleaning costs in Kathmandu
Published Kathmandu Valley clinic prices for scaling and polishing ranged from NPR 1,300 to 4,500 in October 2026, with most between NPR 2,000 and 3,500. The government teaching hospital (TUTH) listed NPR 550 to 1,650.
What changes the price:
- how much tartar and staining there is
- whether one visit is enough or the mouth is cleaned in sections
- whether you need X-rays
- whether your gums need deep cleaning instead of a standard clean
| Treatment | Our price (NPR) | Typical visits |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth cleaning (scaling and polishing) | NPR 2,000 to 3,500 per full mouth | 1 |
See all our prices on the prices page.
Risks, recovery and aftercare
Dental cleanings are safe. Your teeth may feel sensitive and your gums a little sore afterwards; this usually goes away within a few days (Cleveland Clinic). Some bleeding during cleaning is common when gums are inflamed.
Scaling that is rushed or done badly can cause sensitivity and wear, so it should be done by a trained dental professional (Onlinekhabar).
Aftercare that keeps the result:
- Brush for about 2 minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste of at least 1,350 ppm. Spit out, don’t rinse (NHS).
- Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes. The evidence that this helps gums is promising but of low certainty (Cochrane).
- If you smoke or chew tobacco, stopping helps your gums heal (NHS).
Get urgent care if
- bleeding from the mouth will not stop
- your gum or face swells, or you notice pus
- you have a fever or pain that gets worse after a few days
Does scaling loosen teeth or damage enamel?
No. This is one of the most common worries about cleaning in Nepal, so here is what actually happens.
- Loose teeth come from gum disease. Plaque and tartar cause gum inflammation. Left alone, it can turn into periodontitis, where gum and bone shrink and teeth can loosen (NHS, CDC).
- Tartar can hide the damage. When bone is already weak and tartar is heavy, a gap between two teeth can appear after cleaning. The space was there before; the tartar filled it (Onlinekhabar, Dr Biplav Adhikari).
- Swollen gums settle. After cleaning, puffy gums often shrink back to their healthy shape. That can make teeth look longer for a while.
- Early gum disease can be reversed. Gingivitis is reversible with cleaning and good home care (CDC). Waiting lets tartar keep building.
Scaling removes tartar, not enamel. The honest limit: rushed or rough scaling can cause sensitivity and wear, which is a reason to have it done carefully, not a reason to avoid it.
Alternatives
| Option | How it works | Time | Upkeep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home brushing and flossing | Removes soft plaque daily | A few minutes a day | Every day | Everyone; cannot remove hard tartar |
| Scale and polish | Removes tartar above the gum line and polishes | Usually one visit | Repeat at the interval your dentist suggests | Tartar, stains, early gum bleeding |
| Gum treatment (deep cleaning) | Cleans tartar from below the gum line and root surfaces | Often more than one visit | Regular maintenance cleans | Gum pockets, receding gums, loose teeth |
| Teeth whitening | Bleaching gel lightens tooth colour | One or more visits, or at home | Top-ups | Colour change after the teeth are clean |
Clean and safe
Scaling instruments touch the gums, so how they are cleaned and sterilised between patients matters. You can read how we clean, sterilise and check our instruments on the sterilisation and safety page. If it is your first time, the first visit page explains what to bring and expect.
Sources
- Dental cleaning, Cleveland Clinic (2026)
- Gum disease, NHS (2026)
- About gum (periodontal) disease, CDC (2024)
- How to keep your teeth clean, NHS (2025)
- Home use of interdental cleaning devices (Worthington et al.), Cochrane (2019)
- Scaling done wrongly can harm teeth: Dr Biplav Adhikari (Nepali), Onlinekhabar (2022)
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to know what is right for your teeth.
