A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, treats gum disease by cleaning below the gumline. It is priced per quadrant, and most people need two to four. Add sedation if you need it, then see how insurance treats this as a basic service rather than free preventive care.
Your estimate
Updated 2026-07-06$242 typical ($185 to $444)
Medium confidenceBased on CareCredit (avg $242, $185-$444, ASQ360); Aspen Dental 2026 ($210-$435); Humana Dental Procedure Pricing Tool ($235-$303/quadrant) (2024-12 (CareCredit); 2026 (Aspen/Humana)). Updated 2026-07-06.
What is included
- Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing, per quadrant)$242
With insurance
Monthly payment example
About $20/mo over 12 months or $10/mo over 24 months. Just an example, based on a 0% promo plan and the typical estimate. This is not an offer, and the real terms and approval depend on the lender.
This is an estimate, not a quote or a treatment offer, and not medical or financial advice. The figures are modeled from public sources and shown as ranges with a date and a confidence level. For a real number, ask your dentist for a written treatment plan and check coverage with your own plan.
Deep cleaning costs
Deep cleaning cost per quadrant
A deep cleaning, officially called scaling and root planing, usually costs about $242 per quadrant, with most quadrants landing between $185 and $444. Your mouth gets treated in quadrants, upper right through lower left, and most treatment plans cover two to four of them, so a full-mouth deep cleaning commonly comes to about $970. Set your quadrant count in the calculator.
Why it is priced per quadrant
Because the work is slow and usually done one area at a time, sometimes across two visits with local anesthetic. The hygienist cleans below the gumline, scraping tartar off the tooth roots and smoothing them out so your gums can reattach. It treats early to moderate gum disease, which a regular cleaning can't reach. How many quadrants you need depends on where your gum pockets measure deep.
Necessary treatment or upsell: the honest test
The honest test is the actual numbers from your gum exam. Pockets 4 millimeters and deeper with bleeding are the textbook case for scaling and root planing, while healthy 2 to 3 millimeter pockets aren't. If a brand-new office recommends all four quadrants without showing you pocket measurements or X-rays, it's totally reasonable to ask for the charting or get a second opinion. That said, real gum disease left alone costs way more than the cleaning would have.
Deep cleaning with insurance
It's usually covered, but as basic treatment rather than free preventive care, which catches people off guard. Plans commonly pay 50 to 80 percent per quadrant after the deductible, up to the annual maximum. Since four quadrants can bump right up against a $1,500 cap alongside your other work, timing matters, and our insurance tool can test a two-year split. Turn on insurance in the calculator to see your share.
Common questions
How much is a deep cleaning with insurance?
Plans usually cover it at 50 to 80 percent as basic treatment, which puts your share at roughly $50 to $120 per quadrant on the typical $242 fee.
Can I spread deep cleaning over multiple visits?
Yes, and it's completely normal. Since it's priced and done per quadrant, a lot of treatment plans handle one side of the mouth per visit.
What happens if I skip a needed deep cleaning?
Gum disease doesn't reverse on its own. Left untreated, it moves toward bone loss and loose teeth, and the treatment you eventually need costs far more than the cleaning would have.