During your dental check up your dentist will let you know if you need to see the hygienist. It means that you need to have a thorough clean of your mouth. The hygienist will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove hardened plaque off your teeth. Also they may use a hand scaler to reach the calculus that is inside your gums. Then the hygienist will advise you of how frequent you need to come back for the clean. This depends on the condition of your gums. The main advantage of this treatment is to prevent gum disease, bad breath, and bone loss around your teeth.