A routine scale and clean is usually a set fee, but the cost rises where there's heavy build-up or where gum disease means cleaning below the gum line across several appointments. Ask whether the quote is for a routine clean or for periodontal treatment - they're different jobs.
We'll give you a figure, not a range
Quoting a national average here wouldn't help you much - the cost depends on your teeth. After an examination we'll give you a written plan with the cost of each item, before any treatment is booked. Ring 03 441 8248 and we'll arrange it.
What changes the price
- How much hardened deposit has built up since your last clean
- Whether the cleaning is above the gum line or below it
- Whether gum disease means treatment needs splitting across appointments
- Whether local anaesthetic is needed for deeper cleaning
- Whether stain removal or polishing is included
Routine clean versus periodontal treatment
A routine scale and clean removes plaque and hardened tartar from the visible surfaces and just below the gum line. It's a single appointment.
Where gum disease has created deep pockets, cleaning the root surfaces inside them is a bigger job - usually across more than one appointment, often with local anaesthetic. That's periodontal treatment, and it's priced differently. Being clear which one you're being quoted for avoids a surprise.
Why leaving it longer costs more
Tartar hardens onto the tooth and can only be removed with instruments. The longer between cleans, the more there is, and the longer it takes. Someone coming every six months has a shorter, cheaper appointment than someone arriving after five years.
