My husband was just at the dentist and she told him that he needs to have his teeth scaled. Can someone explain that procedure to me.

Put quite simply, your husband needs a professional clean. After a while plaque is hardened by the minerals in our saliva. When that happens, you cannot simply brush it off, like you would with plaque. That's why it needs to be removed by a dentist/hygienist. If left, it can cause periodontitis, or put simply, severe gum/bone disease. Best to have that done twice yearly.

The word scaling is usually used when a dentist is talking about removing tarter that has built up underneath the gum line; however it is also used when referring to removing something such as food, a pop corn corneal, or anything else stuck under the gum line that may be causing irritation or infection.
It is a little instrument that you can buy in the tooth brush/tooth paste isle. It is usually by the dental floss. There are 4 different kinds and they usually come with an instrument that has a little round mirror on the end of it. Do you know what I'm referring to? These instruments are called scalers. They are made with either 4 single-ended blades, or 2 double-ended blades. He can do it himself, but having it done professionally is always more precise. If he chooses to do it himself, he will need to buy scalers with a sharp point blade (kind-of looks like a fish hook) and a flat blunt blade.
The double ended scalers have one blade that points to left at one end and a blade that points to the right on the other end which makes doing it yourself a lot easier, or they have both the point and flat blades at opposite ends.
I can give instructions on how to DIY if you'd like.
-Kae

I strongly recommend that you do not attempt to do any home dental work. Akaetrue, do you work in the dental field?

I entered a dental hygienist program after receiving an associates degree. I was young and discovered that it wasn't the field for me during the public health clinicals that my state requires after completion of the program. So, no I do not work in the field, but did complete the program... A big part of that program involved how to teach and instruct individuals how to properly care for their teeth and gums which included scaling teeth as well as proper brushing, flossing, etc.. However, each state has it's own requirements and I guess they could have changed over the years, but I don't recall scaling teeth being an "in office only procedure" for any of them and I know it has not changed for my state. But I could be wrong about the other states.
It does not take the place of a professional cleaning by far as a professional cleaning involves more than just scaling teeth... The "in office" procedure includes an ultrasonic scaling (which can not be done at home) and polishing just to name a couple... Maybe Tuscany's husbands dentist was referring to the this whole in office procedure.
Scaling teeth at home with over the counter instruments is encouraged for adults (at least where live), is considered a part of regular oral hygiene, and the instruments are sold in every drug store, grocery store, and dollar store right beside the floss.
To me, advising someone not to scale their teeth in order to remove trapped food, tarter, or anything else under the gum line that was not removed with proper brushing/flossing sounds as crazy as telling a person not to floss or brush their teeth at all... But that's just me. I'm surprised that another state or place could be so different... Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers.

I'm from Australia, and the dental instruments you are referring to are not sold as retail items to the general public. I was not aware that the US does this (Im assuming that is where you are from) but I must say that said instruments (sicle scalers or curettes) are so sharp and technique sensitive that it would be so easy for the layperson the damage their gingiva, especially since we don't know how far subgingival the calculus is, or if this person has periodontitis.

WOW! How different is that... I must say though, the in office equipment and instruments are much more sophisticated than affordable OTC ones. There are only 4 simple blades offered at affordable prices OTC. I have a really nice professional set that was given to me as a gift when I was in the program 10 years ago and not one of the OTC instruments are comparable.
Health Insurance companies do not include dental coverage. If one wants dental coverage they have to purchase it separately or have it as an add on (the cost either way is ridiculous and that's not to mention deductibles), Also professional cleanings are considered cosmetic (which cosmetic procedures are not covered by any policy). A professional cleaning is only covered if included in a once yearly complete examination (if that). Children are the only exception - they are allowed a complete examination and cleaning once yearly and a cleaning 6 months later giving them 2 cleanings a year. Some people have better policies that offer more, thanks to the company they work for. But in general most people go without professional cleanings... That's just one of the reasons educating the public on how to care for their own teeth is stressed when they do come in for a visit. Unfortunately, many people don't go for cleanings and never learn how to properly care for their mouths which I learned first hand during clinicals where the cleanings were provided at no cost to uninsured individuals that had never had a cleaning in their life. They have to sign up for the free cleaning ahead of time and be approved based on income. It's sad really... There are a lot of people who only go to the dentist when they're having a problem and the people who can't afford it get in line at the free clinic and wait all day and into the night just to have their problem fixed (mostly extractions).

Sorry Kae, but I agree that this could also be potentially dangerous to refer people to do at home without knowing medical health. If there is a mitral valve prolapse for instance a person needs a course of anitbiotics prior to any dental work of this kind. We don't know if Tuscany's husband does or does not have this. Also, we don't know what meds he may or may not be on. Blood thinners present a potential dangerous situation if he were to do this at home and were on Coumadin or Warfarin for instance.

And, yes, Renee, these are common OTC devices here in the US. I have several in my home actually.

I stand corrected:)...
It really should be used only to maintain a healthy smile between regular visits... and only if you have been instructed by the dentist or hygienist and know the correct way.
Renee and J_9, are both correct about the health issues involved with doing this procedure yourself especially if there is any underlying or obvious illness...
I guess I take it for granted thinking of it as regular, everyday oral hygiene whereas not many people know what it is...
Sorry guys...
Kae

Thank you everyone.
He goes tomorrow at 9:30 to get the procedure done.
The dentist says that he is going to put him on antibiotics afterwards.

Ok, let's clear some things up. 1) Kae is absolutely WRONG when they say that professional dental cleaning is NOT covered by insurance for adults. Bit Fat WRONG! Professional Dental Cleaning is a Medical Necessity and always HAS been. It is NOT considered cosmetic. That's WHITENING! Profession Dental Cleaning is medically necessary because it prevents A lot of other illness within the body that insurance would have to pay for in the end, AND it's a whole lot cheaper for insurances to cover a cleaning every 6 months than it is to pay for Fillings, Endos(root canals), Apicoectomies, partials, dentures, prescriptions for pain and infection, etc...

2) MVP as well as ASD and VSD are concerns with professional dental cleanings and do require, in some cases, an antibiotic before or after. BUT, that is because the Hygenist(or dentist depending on the proceedure) goes MUCH deeper into gums, teeth, roots, nerves, blood supply than anyone, I would hope, scaling at home would go. Unless, of course, they were a crazy Masochist. I don't know about you, but when I leave the hygenists chair, my gums are FLAMING. And it's not from the scaling and picking. It starts when she's FLOSSING. When I floss at home, I'm never in that much pain. Because I don't go as deep and as hard as any hygenist I have ever had goes. And they always tell me my teeth look great, that I make their job easy because they don't have much to do.

3)There is NO problem with scaling and picking at home. ALL my dentist have HIGHLY recommended it. AND it is routine for the Orthodontist I took my kids to to give all new orthodontic patients a set of scaler, pick and mirror and a lesson to the parents(if patients are children) on how to get around the braces and bands, in order to prevent cavities around the braces and bands and discoloration/demarcation when the braces come off 3 to 4 years later. My kids got their braces off and their teeth are Gorgious! The following week they went to get their cleaning as is required after orthodontia removal and the hygenist and dentist were flabergasted at how clean and great their teeth were. Wanted our orthodontist's name to recommend to all their patients who need orthodontia. When I explained how the ortho taught me how to scale and pick around the braces, they started to hand out a set to every new patient with their tooth brushes and floss. If you need a new set, you just ask for one. Of course, the hygenist teaches the patients how to do it, the do's and don'ts and the whys.

4)The OTC sets are no where NEAR as fine and sophisticted, as Kae said, as the professional office tools are. The reason they aren't is to PREVENT the lay person from causing themselves damage. You cannot get the OTC sets as far below the gum line as the professional sets the hygenists use. They are just too big and bulky. They aren't as "sharp" for lack of a better term, as the professional tools are. And they will no way ever do the job as well as the profession sets do, even with a professional using them. They just aren't designed to. It's like using a Standard Screwdriver on a Philips head screw. You'll be able to turn it, but you won't get it as tight as the Philips head screw driver will. Anyone trying to go too deep with these OTC tools is, as I said, A Masochist, literally. You would HAVE to really be TRYING to hurt yourself, and ENJOY it, to go too far. Generally speaking, someone scaling at home is trying to prevent pain, not cause it. They minute they went just a hairline too far, they would know it, and stop! Don't worry, no hygenist or dentist will EVER lose their job for lack of need for their skills because due to home scaling. If anything, the more people who home scale, makes the dentist and hygenist job easier, go faster, and able to fit more patients in in one day!