How Much Does Dental Cleaning Cost?

One of the most important things you can do to maintain good oral health is keep routine visits to the dentist for a professional dental cleaning. Sure, you have heard that you should go to the dentist every 6 months, but how do you budget for this expense twice a year? The best place to start is to do a little research and get a good understanding of how much a typical dental cleaning will cost. Here is a bit more information to get you started.

A Routine Dental Cleaning

What is a routine dental cleaning? A regular dental clinic visit usually includes a comprehensive oral exam, a review of your oral hygiene habits, and a professional dental cleaning. Every few visits a dental visit may also include x-rays of your teeth and jawbone. Here are the usual steps of the dental cleaning portion of the visit:

  • First, your dentist, or their dental hygienist, will complete the process called scaling where they use an ultrasonic scaler or a manual hand scaler to remove debris, calculus, and plaque buildup from the gum line and in between the teeth. The Ultrasonic scalers that are becoming increasingly popular vibrate at low frequency and use air pressure to breakup and remove plaque.
  • After all of the plaque has been removed, the next step is to polish the teeth. Again, an automatic handheld device is used to apply a special polishing paste to each tooth. The tool is special because it buffs the teeth while applying the polish.
  • The last step is a quick floss with dental floss and a rinse to eliminate any remaining debris.

In general, the professional dental cleaning experience is quick, approximately 30 – 45 minutes, and pain free. If you do feel a little pain or discomfort during the cleaning you should let your dentist know.

The Cost of a Dental Cleaning

Maintaining regular professional dental cleanings is important to preventing gum disease and tooth decay. When you are considering if routine cleanings are worth the cost, you have to consider the potential costs of not getting cleanings, including the costs of treating gum disease. Here are some factors to consider when trying to gauge what you will pay:

  • The price varies: A routine professional cleaning usually varies between $75-200 and on average will cost around $125. This rate depends on:
    • the experience and training of your dentist
    • the local rates in your community
  • Dental insurance coverage: If you have dental insurance, you should expect your insurance plan to cover 100% of the costs of at least one cleaning a year. The allotted costs may cover the average cost of a cleaning, so if you visit a more expensive dentist, your insurance may not cover the full costs.
  • Deep cleaning: If it has been a while since your last visit to the dentist, they may recommend a more extensive deep clean. A deep cleaning procedure will be more expensive and can range between $500-4,000 depending on the amount of time and work that is needed.

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