Scaling and root planing is the removal of all hard and soft deposits from the teeth. Scaling usually refers to removal of deposits above the gum line, while root planing refers to removal of deposits on the root itself, below the gum line. Deep cleaning is a lay term generally referring to root planing (under the gum). The soft bacterial deposits that form on tooth surfaces will become hard over time, attaching to the root like a barnacle to a boat hull. These deposits must be removed to eliminate the infection in the gum. Complete scaling and root planing is generally done with local anesthetic ("Novacaine"), and takes from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the case. The deeper the pocket the harder it is to remove all deposits, because of difficulty in seeing and reaching deeper deposits. With deep pockets, surgery is the only way to effectively clean the root surfaces.