How Much Does Dental Cleaning Cost?
Routine dental cleaning is an integral part of a healthy oral hygiene routine, playing a major part in the prevention of gum disease and tooth decay. Combined with an effective oral hygiene routine at home, routine professional cleanings can prevent gum disease from developing and help you keep your teeth healthy, strong, and intact for the long haul. When routine dental cleaning is ignored and gum disease is allowed to develop, scaling and root planing treatments are used to clean deep into the pockets below the gum line, disinfecting and smoothing the tooth roots to discourage bacterial growth as the gum tissue heals around the tooth. Routine dental cleanings cost less than these dental deep cleans, and most dental insurance plans cover semi-annual or annual dental cleanings, so there are no real reasons to skip your recommended dental cleanings when you have dental insurance.
Even without dental insurance, though, dental cleanings are affordable: a basic cleaning by a dental hygienist can cost as little as $75, with an average cost of $130 for a routine cleaning. When the dental cleaning is part of a comprehensive exam, which includes x-rays and an evaluation by the dentist, the cost rises and is partly dependent on the number of x-rays needed. Comprehensive cleanings range in cost from $125 to $335, with an average cost in the $200 range. For new patients, an annual dental cleaning appointment will typically include x-rays and an exam, though more frequent cleanings may only involve the dental hygienist. When patients display early signs of gum disease, dentists recommend additional cleanings, and these aren’t usually covered by insurance. If your dentist recommends more frequent cleaning as a preventive measure against gum disease, find a way to follow their suggestion, and keep in mind that gum disease is far more painful and considerably more expensive to treat.
As the first line of defense against progressive gum disease, dental deep cleanings can cost anywhere from $500 to $4,000, depending on the severity of the gum disease, the amount of time it’s been since the last cleaning, and the number of visits needed for the deep cleaning. Dental insurance usually covers at least some portion of dental deep cleaning treatments; insured patients report paying around $375 out of pocket for their scaling and root planing, and uninsured patients report an average payment of $1,300. Factors that influence the cost of dental deep cleaning include how deeply the dental team will need to clean, whether they’ll need to use antibiotic injections ($40-$90 per tooth) to expedite healing of especially profound pockets, and whether a debridement is needed. Debridement involves manually chipping or cutting away plaque and tartar to make the gums visible and treatable, and full-mouth debridement ranges in price from $75 to $150, on top of the other required procedures.
If you live near a dental school or community college, check to see if they have a community clinic that offers discounted rates for dental cleaning. Dental students, supervised by faculty or faculty themselves, will clean, examine, and x-ray your teeth, sometimes for as little as $20 to $50. If you have dental insurance, ask your insurance company for approved dentists, and ask your friends, neighbors, and coworkers for recommendations within that network. Don’t be afraid to visit dental offices to see if you like the way they feel, and consider their location, their schedule, and the music they play – whatever’s important to you. Finding the right balance between cost, comfort, and convenience is key to keeping a healthy oral hygiene schedule and preventing the ravages of gum disease.