How much does a deep teeth cleaning cost?

Deep cleaning cost per quadrant

Dentists divide the mouth into four quadrants and bill scaling and root planing per quadrant. Real Dental Costs’ $242 midpoint matches CareCredit’s 2023 to 2024 average per quadrant.^[1][2] Where you land in the range depends on how much tartar and bone loss there is: the light tartar tier in the table above means shallow 4 mm pockets, and the heavy tier means pockets of 5 mm or deeper with bone loss.^[1]

Full mouth deep cleaning cost

Two quadrants cost $338 to $704; the four-quadrant price is in the table above.^[1] Treatment is usually split across one to four visits, and local anesthesia is usually included in the per-quadrant fee; confirm that before you start.^[1]

How much does it cost to remove tartar from teeth?

It depends on how much tartar there is and where it sits:^[1][4]

• Light tartar above the gumline comes off during a regular cleaning, which costs $75 to $200 for the full mouth per Real Dental Costs; Pearl’s national average for a cleaning is $155.
• Heavy buildup is removed with a full-mouth debridement, listed in the table above.
• Tartar below the gumline with gum disease needs scaling and root planing, billed per quadrant.

Ask your dentist which code they plan to bill, because a debridement or deep cleaning costs more than a routine cleaning. See teeth cleaning cost without insurance for routine prices.

Deep cleaning cost with insurance

• Coverage: most plans treat scaling and root planing as basic or periodontal care and pay 50% to 80% after the deductible, once the dentist documents pockets of 4 mm or more and bone loss.^[1]
• Annual maximum: a full-mouth case can use much of a $1,000 to $2,000 annual maximum.^[1]
• Waiting period: some plans impose 6 to 12 months before they pay.^[1]
• Frequency: insurers typically allow scaling and root planing once every 24 months per quadrant.^[1]
• Maintenance visits: most plans cover periodontal maintenance at 50% to 80%, not the 100% preventive rate.^[4]

Ongoing cost after a deep cleaning

After treatment you usually move to periodontal maintenance visits every 3 to 4 months, which comes to $460 to $1,200 a year. Because most insurers fund two cleanings a year, visits three and four often cost $230 to $600 out of pocket.^[1] CareCredit’s study average for a periodontal maintenance cleaning is $167.^[2]

Deep cleaning vs regular cleaning

A regular cleaning polishes above the gumline on healthy gums in about 30 to 45 minutes and costs $75 to $200 for the full mouth. A deep cleaning treats active gum disease below the gumline and takes 1 to 2 hours per quadrant.^[1] If your dentist says a tooth cannot be saved, see tooth extraction cost.

How to pay less for a deep cleaning

1. Ask to see the measurements. Pocket depths and X-ray bone levels decide whether you need treatment and which price tier applies.^[1]
2. Try a dental hygiene school. Pacific University’s clinic charges $50 per quadrant for 1 to 3 teeth, $80 per quadrant for 4 or more teeth, and $80 for periodontal maintenance.^[3]
3. Check your waiting period and maximum. If you have insurance, confirm both before you book so the claim is paid.^[1]
4. Use a dental discount plan. Care Anytime’s dental benefit lists 20% to 50% savings on most dental procedures and a 20% reduction on specialists’ normal fees, including periodontics, where available.^[5] See how dental discount plans work.