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Advanced gum disease (chronic periodontitis) occurs in 47.2% of American adults over 30.1 If you have gum disease (periodontitis), your dentist may recommend a scaling and root planing procedure.
Below, we provide more information about the procedure, including the average costs for the procedure with or without dental insurance.
What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing together is a deep cleaning dental procedure done by a dentist or dental hygienist. It's used to remove built up tartar and plaque along the root surface deep below the gumline.
Untreated gum disease can lead to bone and tooth loss. Scaling and root planing may help you avoid this type of damage.
Before beginning the procedure, your dentist or hygienist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area being treated. Scaling and root planing is a two-part procedure:
- Tooth scaling is done manually or with an ultrasonic instrument that scrapes out plaque and tartar beneath the gums.
- Next, root planing will be done with a manual instrument that smooths out the tooth's root, so no rough edges remain. This helps the gums reattach easily to the tooth root.
After a scaling and root planing procedure you should expect to feel some discomfort for a day or two and sensitivity for up to a week.
Preventative vs. Therapeutic Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing may be recommended as a preventive strategy to protect teeth and gums from possible infection and decay. Preventive procedures are typically done on an entire set of teeth.
The procedure may also be done therapeutically to treat existing disease. Therapeutic procedures are done as needed, in specific areas of the mouth called quadrants. The average cost is around $100 to $350 per quadrant of the mouth (of which there are four):
- Upper right
- Upper left
- Lower right
- Lower left
How Much Does Scaling and Root Planing Cost?
The average cost for a scaling and root planing procedure is around $200 to $300 if you don't have dental insurance. The national cost range for therapeutic and preventive scaling and root planing is:
| Type of Procedure | Cost Range |
|---|---|
|
Preventive scaling and root planing, up to three teeth per quadrant |
$150 - $300 |
|
Preventive scaling and root planing, four or more teeth per quadrant |
$200 - $450 |
|
Therapeutic scaling and root planing, whole mouth |
$100 - $350 |
It's important to note that additional costs will also be needed to cover ancillary services, such as x-rays, antibacterial agents, laser treatment and follow-up care. These necessary add-ons may increase your dental bill by hundreds of dollars.
The cost of scaling and root planing can also vary based on a number of additional factors including your regional area, the number of teeth being treated and the dentist's level of expertise.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Scaling and Root Planing?
Since scaling and root planing is a medically necessary treatment for gum disease, dental insurance usually covers around 50% or more of the cost.
To get insurance coverage for this procedure, your dentist may have to provide proof to your insurance company of the procedural necessity. Usually, x-rays or other diagnostic tests that show inflammation or damage will be sufficient for this purpose.
Your insurer may place a cap on how often you can have a scaling and root planing procedure done. If you have dental insurance check with your specific provider to find out what your anticipated out of pocket costs may be.
How Can I Pay for Scaling and Root Planing?
Keep in mind that this procedure can reduce the need for more extensive dental work later on. If you need scaling and root planing but don't have dental insurance, there may be financing options available. If you do have dental insurance, you can also use financing to pay for the out-of-pocket costs associated with this procedure.
Of course, if you have funds readily available in your savings or checking account, you can use them for this purpose. If you have pre-tax dollars available in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use those funds to pay for scaling and root planing procedures. General purpose credit cards are also generally accepted by dentist offices.
Financing Scaling and Root Planing With the CareCredit Credit Card
Whether you're getting scaling or root planing or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.
In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?
Expert Reviewer
Dr. Howard Ong, M.A.G.D.
Dr. Howard Ong is a general dentist who specializes in dental implants and is one of the partners and owners of Oaxaca, Ong & Jensen Seal Beach DDS, located in Seal Beach, California. Due to his extensive training, he handles all surgery cases for the practice and is a proponent of using cutting-edge technology in the office.
Author Bio
Corey Whelan is a freelance writer with 15 years of experience focusing on medical issues and health and wellness content. Her work has been featured in outlets such as Newsweek and Time Inc.
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The information, opinions and recommendations expressed in the article are for informational purposes only. Information has been obtained from sources generally believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources, or any other, Synchrony and any of its affiliates, including CareCredit, (collectively, “Synchrony") does not provide any warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any information for its intended purpose or any results obtained from the use of such information. All statements and opinions in this article have been evaluated and are supported by the expert reviewer. The data presented in the article was current as of the time of writing. Please consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented.
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Sources:
1 Scaling and Root Planing. Mouth Healthy. Accessed June 29, 2022. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/scaling-and-root-planing
