The Chairside Instructor 15 Gum Disease Treatment and Maintenance Gum Disease Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root planing smoothes the tooth root and helps the gums re-attach to the tooth. Deep Cleaning – Scaling and Root Planing Before treatment Image ©Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Deeper cleanings like scaling and root planing are performed to help your gums properly heal from gum disease. After treatment