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Scaling and root planing (S&RP) are regarded as the main modalities for treating periodontal disease. The goal of these treatments is to arrest the disease process, maintain a healthy periodontium and preserve the dentition. As prevention becomes a larger component of everyday dental practice, dentists are performing S&RP more often as part of their periodontal maintenance programs. Therefore, it is essential for dentists to know the latest S&RP techniques and methods. This paper reviews the current knowledge and experiences related to mechanical non-surgical periodontal therapy and focuses on the types of S&RP instruments that are available, their advantages and disadvantages, their efficacy in debridement, and their effects on the hard tissues of the oral cavity.