Periodontal Cleaning Cost
Periodontal Cleaning Cost
Periodontal cleanings (also known as periodontal maintenance) are essential in the fight against gum disease. They can stop the progression of the disease and help to prevent it from ever returning.
In this article, we will:
• Outline the costs associated with periodontal cleanings
• Describe how periodontal maintenance differs from standard dental cleanings
• Discuss the various types of periodontal cleaning
Periodontal cleaning cost
Periodontal cleanings typically cost anywhere from $100 to $350 per session. The costs can vary depending on the office location (periodontal cleanings tend to be more expensive in larger cities than rural areas) and the experience and reputation of the periodontist and periodontal practice.
Periodontal cleaning cost with insurance
The good news is that dental insurance plans often cover periodontal maintenance costs, at least in part. Periodontal cleanings are typically considered preventative care and are encouraged by insurance providers. They may be less expensive than you might think. Contact us for a custom price estimate based on your dental insurance provider.
Is periodontal maintenance the same as regular dental cleanings?
The short answer is no; they are not the same. Periodontal cleanings differ from regular dental cleanings. Let us explain how:
The mouth contains bacteria. Regular brushing and flossing help to keep this bacteria from damaging your teeth and gums. But often, brushing and flossing aren’t enough, and the bacteria clings to the teeth and hardens, becoming tartar (calculus). Unfortunately, once plaque becomes tartar, it can’t be removed with brushing or flossing.
Here’s where regular dental cleanings come in. These cleanings, provided by your general dentist, clean the plaque and remove tartar from the surface of your teeth. That’s great, but tartar also exists below the gumline.
Periodontists are gum specialists and provide periodontal cleanings to remove tartar that exists below the gumline. If left untreated, the tartar below the gumline irritates the gums, leading to gingivitis and, eventually, gum disease. Regular periodontal cleanings are essential for patients who have had gum disease in the past because the cleanings stop the disease from returning and reverse some of the damage.
Deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, and laser cleaning
When discussing periodontal cleanings, we are primarily talking about regular periodontal maintenance used to prevent gum disease. But there are other types of periodontal cleanings as well, which we will detail below:
Deep periodontal cleaning
Deep periodontal cleaning is another term for scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is a deeper and more involved type of periodontal cleaning used to treat existing periodontal disease. During the root planing treatment, tartar and bacteria are removed from the tooth roots, deep below the gumline, where the roots meet the jawbone. Deep cleaning treats and resolves an existing gum problem and does not need to be repeated every 3-6 months, like periodontal maintenance.
Root planing
The root planing procedure is designed to eliminate the irritation that causes gum inflammation. By eliminating the irritation, we stop the progression of gum recession and hope to strengthen the attachment between the teeth and gums.
Root planing involves scraping the tooth roots in order to create a smooth root surface. This encourages the gums to reattach to the teeth, creating a more sturdy base for the teeth going forward. It also reduces the depth of periodontal pockets, which discourages gum disease from returning and promotes overall oral health.
Deep cleaning teeth at home
Many patients ask us whether it is possible to deep clean their teeth at home. After all, the foundation of any dental health routine is at-home dental self-care, which involves regular brushing and flossing. However, deep cleaning your teeth at home is simply not possible. The reason has to do with the way in which harmful bacteria accumulate in your mouth.
Bacteria accumulate on your teeth and gums every day. Diligent brushing and flossing go a long way toward removing the bacteria before it causes problems. If you are inconsistent with your dental self-care or incomplete in your cleaning practices, then the bacteria can harden and become tartar. It can also accumulate below the gumline, out of reach of brushing and flossing.
Put simply, it is not possible to deep clean your teeth at home because you do not have the necessary equipment and expertise to remove hardened tartar or clean below the gumline. That’s where your periodontist comes in. For individuals with periodontal disease, we often recommend treatments such as root planing or LANAP laser treatment, followed by regular periodontal cleanings to ensure that your teeth and gums are free from infection and thoroughly cleaned.
Laser periodontal cleaning
Traditionally, periodontal cleaning is performed with metal instruments purposely designed to scrape away tartar and bacteria. Thanks to technological innovations, a new type of periodontal cleaning is now available - laser periodontal cleaning. This type of cleaning uses a specialty dental laser to remove tartar and bacteria below the gumline. While this is technically a type of periodontal cleaning, it most often serves as an alternative to traditional gum disease surgery. LANAP laser gum surgery is an effective treatment for gum disease while causing less pain and allowing for faster recovery than traditional gum surgery techniques.
We offer periodontal cleaning with transparent pricing
At Sacramento Periodontics, our periodontists have provided high-quality periodontal cleanings for decades. We offer transparent pricing and want you to feel comfortable with the cost of your treatment before we start. Contact us today for a custom price estimate. We look forward to meeting you at your first consultation.