Getting a dental cleaning twice a year is an important part of oral hygiene. Regular preventive dental care , such as professional dental cleanings from a hygienist or dentist, can help you prevent bigger health issues like gum disease or tooth decay .
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But how much should you plan to spend on a dental cleaning? Read on to learn about the costs of a routine dental cleaning and what to expect during the procedure.
Costs will vary based on where you live and the dentist you choose. Let’s say you’re an adult living in the Orlando, Florida area. Without insurance, the cost of a routine dental cleaning for an adult will likely cost $80 to $109.1
The cost of the procedure may also depend on the level of dental cleaning you need. Deep cleanings not only polish the visible part of the teeth but smooth down the surface of the tooth to help treat gum disease. This treatment often takes several hours and may cost from $150 to $300 without insurance. However, if you request anesthetics, the price for a deep cleaning may be significantly higher.1
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Many dental insurance plans will offer 100% coverage for the costs of routine preventive dental care, including dental cleanings. You may get at least 1 cleaning each year with no out-of-pocket cost. Some insurance plans may only cover services from a dentist within a plan’s network. If you visit a dentist outside of your network, you may have to pay more.
Dental discount plans , sometimes called dental savings plans, are not insurance. In exchange for an annual fee (generally around $150), you pay a discounted rate for certain dental services at participating dentists. Some savings plans help you save up to 40% on preventive services like exams and cleanings when you use a participating dentist.2
During a dental cleaning, your hygienist or dentist will use special tools to remove tartar. Tartar is a mixture of minerals and bacteria that can form on your teeth if dental plaque is not cleaned away. Since you can’t safely remove tartar from your teeth at home, you need to get tartar cleaned professionally. Dental care professionals remove tartar in 2 ways during cleanings:3
Many dentists recommend a routine dental cleaning once or twice a year. Since many dental plans cover 100% of the cost of preventive treatments, dental insurance could help you avoid paying out of pocket for routine cleanings.
The length of your appointment may depend on how much tartar you have on your teeth. During a typical dental cleaning, the scale and polish may take up to 30 minutes, with the entire appointment lasting up to 45 minutes in all.3
You may need a deep cleaning if your dentist decides that you need extra care to treat or prevent gum disease. A deep cleaning usually lasts several hours and may require multiple visits to complete. During the cleaning, dentists scale the entire tooth to remove built-up tartar. They also perform a procedure called “root planing.” This process smooths the tooth surface below the gumline. Planing the root can remove tartar and help the gums re-attach to the tooth, which could help prevent tartar buildup in the future.3
If you brush and floss your teeth every day, routine dental cleanings may be a little uncomfortable, but usually not painful. But if you have a lot of tartar hardened below the gumline, it might hurt a little when your dentist or hygienist removes the buildup.3
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