How much does a teeth cleaning cost?
People usually don’t pay as much attention to oral health and dental care as they do to overall health, even though the two are inextricably linked. Poor oral health often has spillover effects that can adversely affect your overall health. Most people think optimal oral health is all about brushing and flossing regularly, but that’s not exactly accurate.
Oral health is never complete without regular cleanings — however, most people think regular cleaning (tteeth cleaning) isn’t necessary. Some even assume professional teeth cleaning is a scam — “why should we pay a dentist to clean our teeth when we can do it ourselves?”
However, professional teeth cleaning is a crucial component of overall oral health, often neglected because it’s seen as an unnecessary extravagance. Below, we discuss how much a teeth cleaning costs with insurance, the average cost of teeth cleaning without insurance, and the importance of regular cleanings in general.
What’s the average cost of teeth cleaning without insurance?
The average cost of teeth cleaning without insurance ranges from $90 to $200. However, if it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dentist and you have excessive plaque or tartar build-up, this can add over $100 to your bill. In addition, if you are a new patient, most dental offices require an examination with x-rays. This can increase costs by anywhere from $50 to $400 or more.
How much does a teeth cleaning cost with insurance?
Professional teeth cleaning is seen as an important preventative dental service, i.e., preventing dental problems from occurring. As such, most dental insurance plans cover at least two teeth cleaning sessions per year — and that’s all the teeth cleaning most people need! In most cases, you don’t have to pay anything for the teeth cleaning session. Most people don’t even realize their teeth cleanings are already covered by insurance.
Is the cost of teeth cleaning without insurance worth it?
Above, we’ve stated that teeth cleaning is usually covered by dental insurance plans. If you don’t have dental insurance, the cost of teeth cleaning without insurance may range between $90 to $300. However, some dental clinics have in-house preventative dental care plans that minimize the annual cost of preventative dental services. At Nottingham Dental, we offer a dental membership program called the “Smile Savers Plan” that looks to lower overall costs for our patients in the long-term.
However, regardless of what you’re paying for teeth cleaning, and whether you have insurance coverage, it’s ALWAYS worth the cost. Professional teeth cleaning isn’t an unnecessary procedure; it’s a crucial aspect of overall oral health. Without regular teeth cleaning, you may suffer from dental diseases, cavities, gum disease, and other problems that will be far more expensive in the long run. It’s always preferable to pay for prevention rather than the cure.
What happens at a regular cleaning session?
Now that you understand the costs associated with professional teeth cleaning, let’s talk about what you can expect from a regular cleaning session and how long a cleaning takes. The American Dental Association recommends that you should go for at least two teeth cleaning sessions per year, six months apart. In fact, those with gum disease or an increased risk for gum disease (bleeding and receding gums with bone loss) should go for four teeth cleanings per year, three months apart. Either way, what can you expect from the dental cleaning session?
During the teeth cleaning session, the dental hygienist or dentist will examine your teeth and gum line using a mirror. They’ll look for plaque, tartar, and other signs of gum disease and dental problems. Some people suffer from mild gum recession or bleeding gums due to plaque buildup under the gum line. If that’s the case, the dentist may need to provide root planing — that’s what distinguishes a “deep” cleaning from regular teeth cleaning. During the deep cleaning procedure, the dentist will use a scaler device to remove any accumulated plaque and tartar underneath the gums. They will then smooth each tooth’s root surface to allow the gums to reattach to your teeth, tightening the space between the gums and teeth.
If you do not need a deep cleaning, the hygienist or dentist will proceed to a routine regular cleaning. They use the same scaler device to remove the accumulated plaque and tartar, but only on the tooth surface and not under the gums as with a deep cleaning. They thoroughly scrub your teeth surfaces to remove all remaining traces of plaque.
Afterwards, they polish your teeth using a gritty polishing paste. After the polish, the dentist or dental hygienist flosses between your teeth to ensure there’s nothing stuck in the deeper recesses of your teeth and mouth.
Finally, the dentist will move on to the fluoride treatment. The dentist will apply a fluoride gel or varnish to your teeth and ask you to not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes. Once you remove the mouthpiece, your teeth will be perfectly polished. The fluoride gel protects your teeth from bacterial decay for the next couple of months. It should keep your teeth healthy until your next dental cleaning session. The entire procedure should conclude within 30 minutes.
How to schedule a teeth cleaning appointment near me?
Nottingham Dental is one of the most reputable dental clinics for teeth cleaning and preventative dental services in Katy, TX. Our dental clinic provides a dental membership program that only costs $150 per year per family member, and it includes two general teeth cleanings per year with routine dental exams and x-rays. Considering the average cost of teeth cleaning without insurance generally ranges from $90 to $300 per session, that’s a pretty sweet deal. You can schedule an appointment online by filling up a simple form with your details.
