Chas, I wouldn't look forward to a deep scaling, either. But there's a way to avoid this sort of thing in the future. May I present...Closys mouthwash! I used to collect a lot of tartar, even with the requisite trips to the dentist, and was developing deep pockets. (Not the good kind, either.) Two weeks after trying Closys I had another exam and everything had cleared up! I was amazed! Others I know who've tried it had similar experiences and thank me for telling them about it. Available at some drug stores and also at Amazon. There's a toothpaste, too, but I only use the Closys mouthwash.