Getting your teeth cleaned is a must for maintaining good oral health. Along with an effective brushing and flossing routine, regular exams and cleanings are foundational for lifelong oral health. Unfortunately for many of us, it’s all too easy to delay, postpone, or just forget to schedule teeth cleaning. This in turn can lead to many questions about getting your teeth cleaned, including the cost? How much is teeth cleaning? What should I expect to spend on one? This is a surprisingly complicated question to answer, so let’s take a closer look and learn about the average cost of teeth cleaning.
The first thing to consider when trying to determine the average cost of teeth cleaning is understanding that not all teeth cleanings are the same. Every patient that sits in the dentist’s chair for a teeth cleaning has their own needs and goals. This is especially true if you haven’t had a cleaning for a while or are dealing with an acute oral health issue. Excess plaque and tartar buildup, gum disease, and other ongoing problems may result in additional needs during teeth cleaning, more time spent in the cleaning, and thus higher costs.
Likewise, ongoing health issues may require more frequent cleanings to fix. If you’ve gone a while between cleanings and have a lot of tartar and plaque buildup or deep pitting in the gums, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings for a while until your oral health recovers. Normally dentists recommend teeth cleanings twice a year, which is generally enough to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. However, under some circumstances, your dentist may recommend getting cleanings quarterly or even more often. Your dentist will explain your needs and how often you’ll have to come in for a cleaning, but this may also result in additional costs.
With all that out of the way, how much is a teeth cleaning going to cost you? Well, according to the American Dental Association, the average cost of a teeth cleaning falls between $75 and $150, depending on your location, needs, and dentist. Many dentists will include an exam along with a cleaning. A dental exam gives your dentist a chance to check up on your overall oral health, see how your teeth and gums are doing and detect any problems before they develop into something serious. There may be additional fees associated with an exam, in particular, if X-rays or other imaging are needed.
So what can you do to help mitigate the cost of a teeth cleaning? Dental insurance will often pay for cleanings in whole or in part, depending on your plan and your situation. You can help reduce the cost of cleaning via good oral health practices. Regular and effective brushing and flossing routine along with a good diet low in sugars and starches form the base of life-long oral health. Regular exams and cleanings are the next steps, so don’t delay. If you’re due for teeth cleaning, get in touch today.
