Dental Cleaning Cost Near Me

Deep dental cleaning, which is typically called scaling and root planing, is more complex than a regular dental cleaning. That’s reflected in both the time it takes to do the cleaning and the cost of the cleaning. How much does a dental cleaning cost? That depends on several different factors. 

The average cost of dental cleaning is about $175¹. But a scaling and root planing can cost more than that, possibly a lot more. During a scaling and planing the mouth is typically divided into quadrants. Usually, two quadrants will be cleaned in one appointment and the remaining quadrants will be cleaned in an additional appointment. While a regular dental cleaning can cost as little as $75² a scaling and planing can cost anywhere from $150-$450 per quadrant. 

What’s the average dental cleaning cost near me? 

Prices for a dental deep cleaning vary by provider and location. But if you have periodontitis or if it’s been a long time since you had a dental cleaning you may need a deep cleaning to get rid of the buildup of tartar and plaque in your teeth. Guardian Direct® dental insurance plans have no waiting period for preventative care and most plans offer full coverage for the cost of dental cleaning and X-rays. Deep cleaning can be covered up to 50% depending on the plan that you choose and after applicable waiting period requirements. You also won’t need to submit any paperwork or forms if you get your cleaning done from a dentist that is in the Guardian Direct nationwide network.  

If you put off having routine cleanings, the plaque and tartar buildup can become hard, thick, and creep under your gums and onto the roots of your, teeth causing gum infections like gingivitis or periodontitis. This is when a routine cleaning may no longer be sufficient to remove plaque and tartar buildup, and you will need a deep cleaning or tooth scaling and root planing. 

Putting off having your teeth cleaned might seem like a good way to save time and money, especially if you do not have dental insurance. But the costs to your health and bank account will continue to increase the longer you delay. Regular professional teeth cleanings can help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease and dental insurance help you cover the costs. 

Are you concerned about dental deep cleaning pain?  

It isn’t just the dental deep cleaning cost people worry about. They also worry that scaling and planing will be painful. Scaling and planing is an in-depth procedure but the pain is usually minimal. Your dentists or hygienist may use numbing gel or a local anesthetic if there is a lot of tartar and plaque to be removed so that you won’t feel any pain.³ 

For many people, a scaling and root planing is typically done in two appointments. In the first appointment, the dentist will examine your teeth and measure the depth of the sulcus, or the small v-shaped groove between the teeth and gums. If you have a lot of plaque and tartar build-up in your mouth the sulcus will typically expand. Normally the pocket between your teeth should be 3mm in size. But if you have periodontal disease or need a scaling and planing those pockets will measure larger than 3mm. The size tells the dentist how much scaling needs to be done. Usually, the dentist will clean out the upper and lower teeth on one side at one appointment and the upper and lower teeth on the other side at the next appointment. Then the dentist will apply any antimicrobial agents, antibiotics, or other medicine and polish your teeth.⁴

During the actual procedure, the dentist will use a scaler to remove all the tartar and plaque from the pockets between your teeth. A scaler can look scary, but it’s really just a water-powered cleaner that will blast that plaque and tartar out of your gums. After the gums and teeth are totally clean a planer will be used to smooth out the sulcus. Once your teeth have been scaled and planed if you practice good oral hygiene including daily flossing you shouldn’t need another deep cleaning anytime soon.⁵

Dental deep cleaning before and after 

Scaling and gum planing is an effective way to treat periodontitis and improve general oral and physical health. According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association scaling and planing was able to shrink the pocket between the teeth of people with periodontitis nearly .5 millimeters on average.⁶ Periodontitis has been linked by medical studies to serious health problems like heart disease, pneumonia, and an increased risk of stroke.⁷ Treating periodontitis with scaling and planing and practicing good oral hygiene daily can help  improve your overall health and prevent tooth loss and other dental problems.⁸

Why do I need a deep cleaning? 

Routine cleanings usually require some removal of light, chalky deposits that are mostly found above the gum line on the upper surfaces of your teeth. Removing those with hand instruments, then using a mildly abrasive polish to remove stains and remaining plaque completes the process of a routine cleaning. The entire process is normally painless and usually takes less than an hour. 

If you do not have regular cleanings, with each month that passes, more and more buildup can accumulate on your teeth, eventually getting under the gums, causing infections, and destroying the bone that supports the teeth. This is a serious gum disease called periodontitis. 

Periodontitis affects over 47% of adults over the age of 30 in the United States.² It is a preventable disease and one that is easy to cure with professional cleanings and proper after-care. If you are diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis, a routine cleaning may no longer be enough to remove the deposits. This is when deep cleanings can become necessary. 

A deep cleaning can help remove all the bacteria, plaque, and hard deposits from underneath the gums. This procedure allows the gums to heal and tighten up around the teeth and roots and helps cure infections. 

What to expect if you need a deep cleaning 

Deep cleaning requires two steps: scaling to remove plaque and hard deposits from the teeth and surfaces of the roots underneath the gums, and root planning where the root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed to make it harder for new deposits to accumulate. 

Dentists use electronic scalers as well as hand instruments to remove the deposits from under the gums that attach to the surface of the roots of the teeth. 

Deep cleaning can require at least two appointments and can take as many as six, depending on the extent of the buildup that your dentist or hygienist must remove. If the buildup is generalized all over your mouth, each section, called a quadrant, is treated during separate appointments. The mouth has four quadrants, so four sessions of scaling and root planing might be necessary. Add to those follow-up visits to check the healing process and remove deposits that could not be reached during the scaling appointments, and you might need six or more appointments to complete the treatments. 

After a deep cleaning is completed, you might have some pain for a few days, and the teeth may feel more sensitive, especially to cold. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually all that you need to control the pain.  

It is important to schedule follow-up visits and to have routine cleanings after deep cleanings are completed. Your dentist will determine how often you should come in for after-care. 

DIY Dental Deep Cleaning  

Is it possible to do a DIY dental deep cleaning and avoid the dental deep cleaning cost? There are some healthy oral hygiene practices that should be part of your daily routine that can help prevent periodontitis like brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing your teeth daily.⁹ Flossing is very important because removing the tartar and plaque buildup from the spaces between your teeth will make it less likely that you need to have a scaling and planing done. However, once you already have periodontitis and need a scaling and planing there is really no way that you can do a DIY cleaning deep enough to solve the problem. You will need to have a dentist perform a scaling and planing and then make sure that you brush and floss regularly to help keep the tartar and plaque from building up again.  

How to find the  dental insurance for deep cleaning that is right for you & insights  

If you know that you’re prone to periodontitis or that you will need to have a scaling and planing done because it’s been a long time since you had a cleaning, make sure you choose a plan like the Guardian Direct mid-tier or top-tier dental plans that will cover up to 50% of the cost of a scaling and planing in most plans. To learn more about periodontitis and how you can help prevent it or to learn more about scaling and planing, visit the Guardian Direct library of resources. Here you’ll find articles with insights, information, and advice that will inform you how you can help maintain good oral health, find the right dental insurance that meets your needs and get answers to your questions about dental health.