How Much Does a Dental Cleaning Cost? Our Actual Prices

Most dental offices won’t put a cleaning price in writing until you’re sitting in the chair. We think you should know before you book. These are the prices at all six O2 Dental Group offices in North Carolina, the same in Raleigh as in Siler City.

Adult cleaning $120 Exam billed separately
Child cleaning $100 Ages 3 and up
New patient exam + X-rays $137 Uninsured new patients; regularly $399
Deep cleaning $200–$350 Per quadrant
So for a new adult patient without insurance, a first visit with a cleaning is $257: $137 for the exam and X-rays, plus $120 for the cleaning.

Full price list

Service	Price	What's included
Routine adult cleaning	$120	Removal of plaque and tartar above and just below the gumline, plus polishing. For healthy gums.
Child cleaning	$100	Cleaning and polishing for kids 3 and up.
New patient comprehensive exam and X-rays	$137 (regularly $399)	Full exam, consultation, all necessary 2D X-rays, and a 3D intraoral scan for patients who qualify. For new patients without dental insurance. No cleaning included.
Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)	$200–$350 per quadrant	Cleaning below the gumline and smoothing of root surfaces, for gum disease. Usually done with local anesthetic.
Periodontal maintenance	$150–$250 per visit	The ongoing cleaning schedule after deep cleaning, typically every three months.
Emergency exam and X-rays	$87	For one tooth or one problem area, if something hurts before your cleaning date.

Full price list Why the exam and the cleaning are separate charges

They’re two different services done by two different people. The cleaning is done by a hygienist, who removes buildup and checks your gums. The exam is done by a dentist, who looks for cavities, cracked teeth, failing fillings and signs of oral cancer, and reads your X-rays.

Insurance companies bill them separately too, under their own procedure codes. That’s why the $137 new patient offer covers the exam and X-rays but not the cleaning: it lets a new patient find out exactly what’s going on in their mouth for a fixed price, then decide on a cleaning with full information.

Regular cleaning or deep cleaning?

This is where cleaning costs vary the most, so it helps to know how the decision gets made.

A regular cleaning is for healthy gums

If your gums don’t bleed much and the spaces between your teeth and gums are shallow, a routine $120 cleaning is all you need. The hygienist measures those spaces, called pockets, at each tooth during your visit.

A deep cleaning treats gum disease

When the pockets are deeper, bleed when they’re measured, or X-rays show bone loss around the teeth, tartar has collected below the gumline where a regular cleaning can’t reach. Leaving it there lets gum disease keep progressing, which is one of the most common reasons adults lose teeth.

A deep cleaning is priced by quadrant, one quarter of your mouth. Not everyone needs all four. If you do, the total is $800 to $1,400. You’ll see the measurements and X-rays behind the recommendation, and you’ll get a written estimate before anything is scheduled. More on treatment is on our gum disease treatment page.

After a deep cleaning: periodontal maintenance

Gum disease is managed, not cured, so patients who’ve had a deep cleaning switch to periodontal maintenance visits instead of routine cleanings. These run $150 to $250 each, and most people come every three months, which works out to $600 to $1,000 a year.

What insurance usually pays

Most dental insurance plans treat cleanings and exams as preventive care and pay for two a year, often at or near the full cost. That’s the reason to use them; the benefit doesn’t roll over if you skip.

Deep cleanings and periodontal maintenance are a different category on most plans. They’re usually paid at a lower percentage, may count toward your deductible, and some plans limit how often periodontal maintenance is covered. We check your plan’s rules before your visit so the estimate reflects your actual coverage.

Our offices are in network with plans including Delta Dental, Blue Cross NC Dental Blue, UnitedHealthcare and the TRICARE Dental Program. See every plan we accept.

No insurance: the math on the O2 Advantage Plan

The O2 Advantage Plan is our in-house membership. It starts at $25 a month and includes your routine cleanings, all exams and all X-rays. Everything else is 20% off, including deep cleanings and other gum disease treatment.

At $25 a month, the plan is $300 a year.
Two routine adult cleanings at our regular price are $240 on their own. The membership adds your exams and X-rays for those visits, and the 20% discount on any treatment you need.

If you need a deep cleaning, 20% off brings it to $160–$280 per quadrant.
Gum disease treatment isn’t included at 100% on the plan; it’s discounted 20% like other treatment. There are no deductibles, waiting periods or claim forms. For larger treatment, Sunbit and CareCredit offer monthly payments; see financing options.

Book a cleaning at the office closest to you

Prices are the same at every location.

Raleigh cleanings · (919) 341-4160 · open alternate Saturdays
Durham cleanings · (919) 813-2267
Fayetteville cleanings · (910) 484-5141 · open Fridays
Wilmington cleanings · (910) 377-6453
Siler City cleanings · (984) 265-1655
Southern Pines cleanings · (910) 839-0055

Cleaning cost questions

How much is a dental cleaning without insurance?

$120 for adults and $100 for kids. The exam and X-rays are separate. New patients without insurance pay $137 for the exam and X-rays, so a first visit with a cleaning is $257.

Does the $137 special include a cleaning?

No. It covers the comprehensive exam, consultation and X-rays. The cleaning is billed on its own. The offer is for new patients without dental insurance.

How much is a deep cleaning?

$200 to $350 per quadrant. If all four quadrants need it, $800 to $1,400 total. O2 Advantage Plan members get 20% off.

Why would I need a deep cleaning instead of a regular one?

Because tartar has built up below the gumline, usually shown by deep pockets, bleeding and sometimes bone loss on X-rays. A regular cleaning can’t reach that area. Your hygienist will show you the measurements.

Does insurance cover cleanings?

Most plans pay for two routine cleanings and exams a year, often at or near the full cost. Deep cleanings are usually covered at a lower percentage. We verify your plan before the visit.

How much is periodontal maintenance?

$150 to $250 per visit, usually every three months after a deep cleaning.

Is there a cheaper option if I don't have insurance?

The O2 Advantage Plan, from $25 a month. It includes routine cleanings, all exams and all X-rays, with 20% off other care.

Know the price. Book the cleaning.

Request a time online at any of our six offices.

Prices are O2 Dental Group’s current published fees and may change. Deep cleaning and periodontal maintenance ranges depend on what your exam finds; you’ll get a written estimate first. See all O2 prices.