I had the gum surgery and a couple deep cleanings, in addition to getting my teeth “normal” cleaned every 3 months. It’s a lot of probing, but if you’re prone to problems, or if you’ve abused your teeth and gums by not getting them cleaned regularly for years and years (like me), this may be your only option if you want to keep your teeth.
Just to clarify-- I think Ivylass was thinking “regular six month periodontal cleaning” with the pick (water/metal) that most dentists now use in addition to the routine polishing, i.e. the ones that are routinely included in even the most basic insurance plans (my health– not dental-- insurance even covers these kind of cleanings, with a minimal co-pay).
Intensive below-the-gum-line periodontal cleaning (i.e. deep cleaning) that the OP raised is definitely NOT an every six month procedure, and I would venture, not even a routine procedure, no matter how many years we’re talking about.
That said, it is a “normal” procedure that is sometimes required in cases of advanced gum disease. A much bigger deal than a six-month scraping and digging job, but not so far as an actual stripping procedure where they surgically expose the gumline to root out the disease.
Anyway, as the other commenters wrote-- $1000 is high. There’s no harm in shopping around for a better rate, and/or a second opinion.
When a dentist or hygienist suggests a deep cleaning, it means one thing:
They have to make a boat payment.*
*stole that from Car Talk. It’s like an engine oil flush. It means your mechanic has to make a boat payment
Wow, thanks for all the replies.
I looked at the report I eventually got which details what each part is, rather than just a lump sum, and it’s more than deep cleaning for the $grand.
It’s got
4x ANTIMICROBIAL IRRIGAT, $10 for me, $40 for insurance
4x Perio S/RP $35 for me, $0 for insurance
Periodontal Maintenance, $23 for me, $0 for insurance
Localized Deliv. of Chemothe, $180 for me, $720 for insurance
I am sure the first 3 have to do with the deep cleaning, and have no clue what the fourth one is. It has other things I know don’t have to do with deep cleaning. An Occlusal Guard ($100 for me, $0 for insurance), and a crown ($480 for me, $0 for insurance).
Sooooo … most of the work (except for that weird Chemothe… thing) is all me, and insurance covers very little.
When insurance doesn’t cover it, I’m wondering how necessary some of the things are.
On your advice, I made an appointment with a dentist I used to see (and who my grandparents still see) before I moved to a different valley, on Friday. She said if I bring my x-rays, she won’t charge me for the visit.
But when I called my dentist and asked to borrow the x-rays, or to have a copy, they said $35 for the copy, and it takes 5 business days…
I’ve never had a dentist suggest a “deep cleaning.” I get a cleaning every 6 months to every 3 years, depending on what’s going on. My teeth are fine and I have no gum disease. YMMV, but it’s worked for me for the 30+ years I’ve been managing my own dental work.
Isn’t Chemothe used for chemotherapy?
ETA: I’m unclear: I mean, Isn’t “Chemothe” being used as an abbreviation for “chemotherapy”?
Chemotherapy simply means the dentist will be using a specific chemical - perhaps a disinfectant or something similar - in his treatment. It doesn’t necessarily mean the kind of chemotherapy used to treat cancer.