Why dental cleanings are important
A professional dental cleaning carried out by a dental hygienist or a general dentist is crucial for removing the build-up of plaque that settles on and between your teeth, even if you regularly brush and floss.
Essentially, regular dental cleanings help prevent serious health issues such as gum disease and permanent tooth loss. Cleanings help reach areas that people often miss when brushing their teeth. Some preventative cleanings also often involve scaling (the removal of plaque and tartar below the gum line) and polishing, which can help you avoid tooth decay and bad breath. Whitening treatments can also be used during regular preventative cleanings to brighten teeth.
While dental cleanings are not necessarily cheap without insurance, they help to prevent more serious and expensive dental procedures in the future, such as root canals, crowns, or extractions.
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Factors that affect the price of dental cleanings
The price of a dental cleaning without insurance is not as straightforward as you might think. Many factors can influence the price of dental cleanings, such as the age of the patient, the frequency of cleanings, the type of cleaning, and the location of your dentist’s office.
Age
The age of the patient receiving the preventative cleaning can often be a good indicator of the cost
An adult dental cleaning
The cost of a dental cleaning for an adult is generally expected to be around $100. However, this cost does not include an exam conducted by a dentist or the use of x-rays during the appointment. Appointments usually last around 45-60 minutes.
A child dental cleaning
It is recommended that children get regular preventative dental cleanings every six months once they are three or four years old. Compared to adult dental cleanings, children’s appointments are often considerably cheaper. This is because they have fewer, and smaller, teeth, and as a result, the appointments are shorter in length. The cost of a child’s dental cleaning is usually well under $100.
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Frequency
How often you get dental cleanings can impact the price of one. Most dentists recommend that patients come into the office for a dental cleaning and exam every six months. However, some dentists may recommend that patients come to see them more frequently if they have orthodontic appliances or more serious dental issues, such as gum dum disease.
People that go for dental cleanings less frequently for a number of reasons, such as the high cost or a fear of the dentist, will likely require deeper cleanings than those who regularly go to the dentist. These deeper cleanings usually cost more than a regular dental cleaning because patients often have more dental issues as a result of a lack of dental cleanings. In these cases, many patients must undergo a debridement procedure, which helps remove very thick deposits of plaque and calculus on the teeth, before a regular dental cleaning and exam can take place. This, of course, is likely to be more costly than a normal dental cleaning.
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Type of cleaning
The type of dental cleaning you receive is also likely to play a role in its price.
Preventative cleanings
Regular preventative cleanings on patients without any major dental issues are the most affordable. While the majority of insurance companies do cover the cost of a preventative cleaning, if you don’t have insurance, making sure you have regular dental cleanings every six months is the most economical way to ensure you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket for more costly procedures later.
Deep cleanings
On the other hand, deep dental cleanings involve removing plaque and tartar from below the gum line in order to help those with signs of gum disease or bone loss. This type of cleaning is usually performed within individual quadrants or halves of the mouth during a singular session, requiring patients to come into the office multiple times. As such, this type of cleaning is much more costly than regular preventative cleaning and can range anywhere between $150 to $350. However, because this cleaning is also more invasive, patients may be given a local anesthetic or numbing cream to ease any pain, which would be more costly.
| Type of Dental Cleaning | Cost of Dental Cleaning without Insurance |
| Adult preventative cleaning | Around $100 |
| Child preventative cleaning | Under $100 |
| Deep cleaning | $560-$1200 |
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Location
Surprisingly, the location of your dentist’s office also impacts the price of a preventative dental cleaning. For example, if the office is located in an area with a high cost of rent and other operating costs, a regular dental cleaning may cost more as a result. This higher cost of operation is most common in metropolitan and urban areas, while rural areas tend to have lower operating costs and thus cheaper dental cleaning services.
The 2017 Dental Economics fee analysis survey is a joint study between Dental Economics and the Academy of Dental CPAs and provides accurate information about the costs of different dental services across the United States. The following is a list of regions and the associated expected cost of an adult prophy cleaning, which is a regular preventative dental cleaning. It is important to note that this study does not adjust for differences in price between rural and urban areas.
| Region | Average Price of a Dental Cleaning | High-end Price of a Dental Cleaning |
| Northeast | $113 | $135 |
| Mid-Atlantic | $88 | $199 |
| South | $101 | $117 |
| Midwest | $97 | $115 |
| Mountain | $101 | $113 |
| Pacific | $111 | $111 |
The chart above depicts the average price and the high-end price of a preventative adult dental cleaning in different regions of the United States.
- In the Northeast region (including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut), the average price of cleaning is $113, with the highest range being about $135.
- In the mid-Atlantic region (including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) the price of a normal cleaning is lower at $88, with the high-end being $119
- Patients in the South (including Florida, Texas, and Georgia) can expect prices to be about $101, and no more than $117.
- In the Midwest (including Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois), the price of a normal dental cleaning sits around $97 and is usually no higher than $115.
- The Mountain regions (including Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada) have an expected cleaning price of $101, with a high of $113.
- Finally, data from the Pacific region (including California, Washington, as well as Alaska and Hawaii) shows the price at about $111.
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Cheaper alternatives
If you don’t have dental insurance and are paying out-of-pocket for dental cleanings, you probably want to find the cheapest options available to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to still receive dental cleanings and treatments without breaking the bank.
Dental schools
There are about 65 dental schools in the United States, and there are even more schools that train dental hygienists. A cheaper alternative than going to a traditional dentist’s office is to book an appointment at a dental school. You will be helped by practicing dentists and dental hygienists, with the oversight of professionals to ensure your health and safety, of course. The average range for an appointment at a dental school is anywhere between $15 to $50. However, keep in mind that these appointments can sometimes take much longer than a traditional dentist appointment.
Government programs
Thankfully, there are a number of government-run programs that offer low-cost or free dental services for those without access to dental insurance. For example, child dentist appointments are very low-cost for foster parents. As well, there are pop-up clinics run by non-profit organizations and charities throughout the country that offer free dental services, including preventative dental cleanings.
A dental discount plan
As an alternative to dental insurance, which is usually provided through your employer, you can instead opt to purchase a dental discount plan. These plans can provide patients with savings of up to 50% on their dental cleanings. Most plans issue each purchaser a membership card, which can be used at many dentist offices around the United States for instant savings.
A DIY dental kit
If the above options are still too costly when paying out-of-pocket without insurance, you could try purchasing a dental kit yourself. These kits come with all of the different tools you need to remove hard-to-reach plaque and tartar at home, and they can range anywhere between $15 to $40. However, make sure to carefully read the labels and follow the instructions, as there is a greater chance of damaging your teeth or mouth when using at-home dental kits.
Ask your dentist
Of course, if you are struggling to pay the price of a dental cleaning without insurance, simply ask your dentist about different payment options. Some dentists prefer that patients pay out-of-pocket to avoid the hassle of insurance companies, so they may provide you with a discount.
Regular dental cleanings are important for maintaining teeth and gum health while also preventing more serious dental issues in the future. If you don’t have dental insurance, you still have many options to ensure that you’re taking care of your mouth!
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