How much does a dental cleaning cost?
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Want to know the cost of dental cleaning? The short answer is that it varies, and we’ll show you some typical cost ranges below. But there’s another side to the story, which we’ll also discuss:
What skipping this essential procedure could cost you – not only in dollars and cents but also in terms of your dental and overall health. So read on to find out more about:
How much cleanings cost without dental coverage
How much could you save with dental insurance
What’s involved in routine and deep dental cleanings
The risks of not having dental cleaning
How much does teeth cleaning cost without insurance?
The cost of dental cleanings — and all visits to the dentist without insurance — will vary depending on your age, location, and choice of dentist. That said, here are some nationwide ranges:
Routine dental cleaning for adults: A routine dental cleaning for an adult typically costs between $100 and $200 without insurance.1 Many, if not most, dentists recommend two routine cleanings per year.
Deep dental cleaning for adults: A deep cleaning procedure for the entire mouth, also known as "scaling and planning," typically costs more than $1,000 without insurance.2 Deep dental cleanings are often recommended for patients with gingivitis (gum disease), patients with underlying health issues including diabetes, and patients who haven’t had a routine cleaning in in more than a year.
Routine dental cleaning for children. Assuming normal tooth and gum health, a dental cleaning for a child without insurance is usually less expensive than for an adult, with average cost ranging from $50 to $150.3 It is recommended that children get their first cleaning after most of their permanent teeth have come in, usually between 12 months and 36 months of age.4
How much does a cleaning cost with dental coverage?
Most dental insurance plans help cover the cost of dental cleaning. In fact, with certain plans you may not have to pay anything out of pocket for cleanings and other preventive services.
Benefits differ by insurance company and plan. If you have coverage from work, ask HR about coverage for cleanings and related services. If you no longer have coverage from work, learn more about plans for individuals and families. Or, if you have a small business and want to offer a plan, Guardian can help you get dental coverage for employees.
Why dental cleanings are so important
According to Guardian’s 12th Annual Workplace Benefits Study, dental plan members who had two routine dental cleanings and exams per year for four years spent significantly less on dental care than members who had no cleanings or exams for four years. In fact, those who had no cleanings spent 118% more on major dental procedures and 186% more on routine dental procedures.5 That’s nearly three times as much. But saving money is just one of the many benefits associated with dental cleaning. Here are some key facts to consider:
Dental cleaning can help prevent a range of serious and potentially painful dental problems including gum disease, tooth decay, tooth loss and bone loss in the jaw.
Dental cleanings are especially important for the overall health of those with underlying physical issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
Dental cleanings can actually improve your overall health and may even help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.6
Dental cleaning can enhance self-esteem by brightening your smile and freshening your breath.
Dental cleaning allows your dentist or dental hygienist to check for the first signs of serious health issues such as oral cancer.
Chances are, you can realize all these benefits simply by visiting the dentist for about 30 minutes twice a year.7 During a routine cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will remove decay-causing plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, scrub your teeth to remove any traces of plaque, polish your teeth, and floss to make sure there are no particles left that may cause bad breath or tooth decay.
It's simple, it’s quick and it’s almost always painless. Plus, most dental insurance plans will cover all or a good part of the cost.
Why so many choose Guardian dental plans
Forbes Advisor named Guardian as one of the five Best Dental Insurance Companies of 2024, for providing good value.8 With PPO plans including more than 138,000 providers nationwide, Guardian offers one of the largest networks around, making it easier to find a nearby network dentist. Most plans pay all or most of the charge for checkups and cleanings – so there's no reason not to take advantage of regular services that can be so important to both oral and overall health. With average network discounts of 42%, the whole family can save on every procedure and treatment – even things like teeth whitening and root canals that aren’t covered in a basic plan.