Patients registered in dental care centers from University of Taubate, Taubate - Sao Paulo, Brazil and Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais, Brazil were informed about the objectives and methods of the study, being consecutively included in the study only after signing an informed consent form. Selected participants were randomly allocated to one of the treatment groups by a closed envelope system. According to the designated group, participants receive either conventional quadrant scaling in four weekly sections or full-mouth scaling within 24 hours.