About "Cleanings" and Insurance coverage

Different Types of Dental Cleanings - Prophylaxis, Debridement, Scaling and Root Planing

You may have been told by your employer or by your insurance company that your dental insurance pays for "two cleanings per year". The simplest and least expensive type of "cleaning", called a prophylaxis, is what the insurance company covers twice per year. A prophylaxis is the routine type of cleaning, and can only be performed on a person who is in good periodontal condition (no gum disease), and who does not have a large build-up of tartar, or calculus. A prophylaxis is considered to be preventive, and insurance companies will typically pay all or most of the cost of the prophylaxis.

Many people, especially those who have not been to the dentist in over a year, or who do not brush and floss often enough, will have a heavy build up of tartar, or calculus. These people will need a more extensive cleaning, known as a debridement. Your dental insurance will not pay 100% for a debridement, and they will make you pay your annual deductible (if you have not already) toward a debridement. Accordingly, they may pay very little toward this "cleaning". However, if you come in soon for follow up visits, this will help to keep you from getting a heavy build up again. These twice-per-year simple "cleanings" would be classified as prophylaxis, and your dental insurance will pay all or most of the cost of these regular "cleanings."

If you have periodontal disease, you may need what is known as scaling and root planing, which is a thorough cleaning of tartar from below the gumline, and a smoothing of the roots of the teeth to help prevent tartar from adhering in the future. This is a type of periodontal treatment, sometimes informally referred to as a "deep cleaning". This is substantially more expensive than either a debridement or a prophylaxis, and insurance coverage varies widely (some people have no periodontal coverage).

Most adult teeth are not lost to decay - they are lost to periodontal disease. All of these types of cleanings help to fight periodontal disease, so that you can keep your natural teeth longer. Your own home oral hygiene practices, and regular "preventive care" dental visits, are extremely important in minimizing dental expenses and keeping your teeth healthy for your entire life.