Washington has a lot to offer—beautiful scenery, great food, and of course, really good dental care, but, how much does a teeth cleaning actually cost? It’s often the first thing new patients schedule, a routine must-do for regular patients, and an essential step in maintaining good oral health. So, what can you expect to pay for a cleaning?
Teeth Cleaning Cost in Washington
The exact cost of teeth cleaning in Washington varies on your city, your dental history, and the fees set by your local dental office. But, based on research and information from various sources, you can expect to an average of $90 to $191 for regular dental cleaning. Here’s a list of the average price ranges for regular prophylaxis (teeth cleaning), deep teeth cleaning, and full mouth debridement, in some of the major areas in Washington:
| City | Regular Teeth Cleaning | Scaling and Root Planing (Per Quadrant) | Full Mouth Debridement |
| Seattle | $80–$195 | $190–$430 | $320–$480 |
| Federal Way | $85–$190 | $200–$440 | $310–$490 |
| Lynnwood | $78–$198 | $195–$420 | $305–$495 |
| Puyallup | $90–$185 | $185–$435 | $315–$500 |
| Sumner | $88–$200 | $188–$425 | $300–$505 |
| Tacoma | $130–$290 | $190–$440 | $310–$500 |
| Bellevue | $82–$199 | $185–$428 | $320–$475 |
| Everett | ~$110 | $190–$435 | $315–$495 |
| Spokane | ~$65–$155 | $185–$420 | $300–$490 |
Teeth Cleaning Cost in Washington Without Insurance
Out-of-pocket teeth cleaning cost in Washington averages at around $100 to $250. If you’re a new patient, your local dental office might also require an X-ray exam. But most offices would package the exam with cleaning. At btyDENTAL we often have a $199 new patient special that includes exam, cleaning & x-rays.
For a comprehensive dental exam plus cleaning for new adult patients, expect to pay $600 to $700. If you want to include fluoride treatment, the cost can go up to $800. For children, a dental exam with prophy (regular cleaning) can cost $615 and $685 if you include a fluoride treatment.
But even if you’re not covered by an insurance plan, there are still dental payment and financing options you can avail.
Dental Membership Plan
If you don’t have an insurance policy in place, our btyDENTAL offices offer dental membership plans for kids and adults. These membership plans vary depending on the financing provider.
At btyDENTAL WA, there are three available payment plans—Cherry, CareCredit, and Kleer.
Cherry
Cherry lets patients customize and make plans that’s tailored to your budget. You can split your payments and pay over time. btyDENTAL Lynwood patients can choose a 3,6,12,18, or 24-month payment plan.
The application process is also fast. There are no hard credit checks. All you need to apply is your state ID and mobile number.
CareCredit
We’ve also got financing options through CareCredit. You can also check if you prequalify for CareCredit and they’ll save you time by prefilling some of the information for you. btyDENTAL patients can get interest free payment plans for 6 and 12 months. Head over to our CareCredit page to start your application.
Kleer
No insurance? No problem! Our in-house membership plan through Kleer helps you save on dental care. Anyone can sign up—just visit kleer.com/patients to get started. If you’re a member, you can get:
- X-rays
- 2 professional dental cleanings
- 2 regular exams
- 2 fluoride treatments
- 25% off treatments
What Factors Affect The Teeth Cleaning Cost in Washington?
Dental cleaning costs vary depending on a number of factors including your location, the type of cleaning you’re getting, your insurance, and the additional treatment you need. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know:
Location
In Washington, dentists don’t have a set rate they’re required to follow. So, prices would vary from city to city, office to office. But one thing you do need to think about is your insurance.
Different insurance companies use different algorithms to determine your premium and the coverage they can provide. That might change depending on your area.
Another thing to note is that dental offices are free to charge whatever they wish for a procedure. But most charge more or less the same as other offices to stay competitive.
So, if you’re in Washington, feel free to call our offices so you can get an estimate, get more information regarding your insurance coverage, or inquire about our dental memberships.
Dental Insurance
Insurance can cover all or a bulk of the expenses you need to pay for a dental cleaning. But this would depend on the fee schedule of your provider. Most dental insurances can cover routine dental cleanings and other types of preventative care.
What dental insurance doesn’t cover is anything categorized as “cosmetic.” That means procedures like bleaching, teeth whitening, veneers, and gum contouring, and Invisalign aren’t covered. As a rule of thumb, if the procedure isn’t medically necessary, insurance won’t cover it.
Medically necessary teeth cleaning include prophylaxis (regular cleaning) and scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), with most insurances covering 50% of the cost or more.
Type of Cleaning
There are three main types of dental cleaning procedures you can get—prophylaxis (regular cleaning), full-mouth debridement, and scaling and root planing (deep cleaning).
Regular dental cleaning can range in price but are around $120 for children and $150 to $200 for adults. Meanwhile, full-mouth debridement costs around $450. But, this still doesn’t include additional costs for add-ons like fluoride or sealants.
New patients with no dental history might have to pay extra for an oral X-ray. That’s because dentists need to see if there are any underlying issues present before cleaning.
Scaling and root planing would be the most expensive of the three. Patients have to pay per quadrant of the mouth. For most dental offices in Washington, deep teeth cleaning would cost around $400-450 per quadrant.
Additional Costs of Teeth Cleaning in Washington
In some cases, dental cleanings need additional costs you have to cover out-of-pocket. Here are the additional teeth cleaning costs you have to look out for:
X-Rays and Oral Exams
Your dental provider needs an X-ray to get a clear view of your mouth before starting with a cleaning. The last thing you want is having your cleaning stopped midway because an issue was found that requires another procedure first.
X-rays can last for years, depending on the type you get. At btyDENTAL we recommend new patients to get an oral examination first so we can give a comprehensive assessment of your oral health, which is covered by most insurances.
If you want a more detailed breakdown on the cost and the packages, don’t hesitate to book an appointment in any of our Washington offices.
Fluoride Treatment
Most insurances cover fluoride varnish for children but not adults. That’s because for growing kids, fluoride is considered medically important. So fluoride is often an add-on.
Dental Sealants
Cavity-causing bacteria love to gather and hide in the grooves, fissures, or cracks on your teeth—feeding on the food particles that get stuck. They produce acid that eats the tooth that eventually leads to holes (cavities).
The best solution for this is applying a sealant. But, just like fluoride, insurances cover sealants for children, not adults. If you need a sealant, this can cost around $100.
Post-Operation Medicine
A holistic teeth cleaning doesn’t start and stop at the dental office. In most cases, your dental provider might prescribe over-the-counter medications to help maintain your oral health.
If you have a pre-existing gum condition before the cleaning, dentists might prescribe antibiotics or antibacterial mouthwash to control bacteria buildup, especially for patients more susceptible to bacteria growth in the gum pockets.
How Often Should You Get a Teeth Cleaning?
Most people should get a professional cleaning every six months, but it depends on your oral health. Some may need more frequent visits, especially if they have gum disease. Here’s a quick breakdown of different types of dental cleanings and when they’re needed:
Prophylaxis (Regular Cleaning) – Every 6 Months
This is your standard cleaning for people with healthy gums. It removes plaque, tartar, and stains from above the gumline and helps prevent cavities and gum disease.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning) – As Needed for Gum Disease
If you have gingivitis or early-stage gum disease (periodontitis), your dentist may recommend this. It’s a deeper cleaning that removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline and smooths out the roots to help your gums heal.
Full Mouth Debridement – Before a Regular Cleaning If Needed
If it’s been a while since your last dental visit and you have a lot of built-up tartar, a full mouth debridement may be needed before a regular cleaning. This helps remove heavy plaque and tartar so your gums and teeth can be properly evaluated.
Key Takeaways
Teeth cleaning is essential for sustaining your oral health. To recap, here’s what you can expect to pay for teeth cleaning in Washington:
- Prophylaxis (regular cleaning): $150 to $200 or $600 to $800 with x-ray
- Scaling and planing (deep cleaning): $400 to $450 per quadrant
- Full-mouth Debridement: $300 to $415
Remember, teeth cleaning costs depend on a lot of factors. If you want a more accurate estimate, don’t hesitate to call any of btyDENTAL’s offices in Washington. Schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning today!
