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| The main goal of professional teeth cleaning is to prevent gum disease, which is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults over age 40. The US Food & Drug Administration gives an overview of gum disease and how to fight it. |
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| Typical costs: |
- The charge for a standard teeth cleaning and dental exam ranges from $50 -$135. Often dental insurance will cover some or all of this cost for a specific number of cleanings each year.
- The more extensive deep cleaning process called scaling and root planing is done by quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) at a cost of about $100 -$400 per quadrant depending on the severity of the problem or $400 -$1,600 for the entire mouth. Most dental insurance includes these procedures.
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| What should be included: |
- In a standard cleaning, a dental hygienist (working under a dentist's supervision) removes soft plaque and hard tartar (mineralized plaque that builds up on the teeth and can only be removed with professional instruments) from above and below the gum line on all the teeth. The process requires one office visit and usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
- Scaling and root planing is a deep-cleaning, non-surgical procedure generally done when the depths of the pockets around the teeth are deeper than 3 millimeters--an early sign of gum disease. Under local anesthetic, plaque and tartar above and below the gum line are scraped away (scaling) and rough spots on the root are smoothed (planing) to remove bacteria and give a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth. This is done using a local anesthetic and generally requires two to four office visits, each lasting around 45 minutes to an hour. The American Dental Association gives an overview of scaling and root planing.
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| Additional costs: |
- Periodic X-rays ($13 -$135) are needed to see if any problems are developing inside the teeth, and are generally required before cleaning the teeth of a new patient. These are often covered by dental insurance.
- A full mouth debridement (cleaning away excess buildup so the gums and bones are visible and can be evaluated) at $75 -$150 or more may be needed for new patients who have not had dental treatment for quite awhile. Dental insurance may not cover debridement.
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| Discounts: |
- Dental college clinics may offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty; check DentalSite.com for school locations.
- Some dental groups pay partial fees for low-income patients; the American Dental Association lists state associations.
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| Shopping for teeth cleaning: |
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated November 2007 |
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