When Maria walked into our Burien dental office last month, she thought she was just coming in for a routine cleaning. Unfortunately, what she discovered was that years of putting off her recommended deep cleaning had led to thousands of dollars in additional dental work. Her story isn’t unique; in fact, it’s one we see far too often in our Washington practice.
At Burien Signature Dentistry, we understand that dental costs can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re weighing the expense of a deep cleaning against other family priorities. However, what many patients don’t realize is that delaying this essential treatment often creates a domino effect of dental problems that become far more expensive to address down the road.
The Real Price Tag of Postponing Your Deep Cleaning
While deep cleanings may seem like an optional procedure you can put off until next year, the reality is quite different. When we recommend a deep cleaning, it’s because we’ve identified early signs of gum disease that regular cleanings simply can’t address effectively.
Early gingivitis is much easier to manage and even reverse through deep cleaning compared to the later stages of gum disease. Unfortunately, untreated gum disease, or chronic periodontitis, affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States and can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth, making early intervention crucial for your oral health and your wallet.
The financial implications of delaying your deep cleaning are also sobering. A deep cleaning typically costs between $200 and $ 400 per quadrant, depending on your insurance coverage. Most of our patients with Delta Dental, Cigna, or other major PPO plans find that their insurance covers a significant portion of this preventive treatment. Compare that to the cost of treating advanced gum disease, which can require thousands of dollars in periodontal surgery, bone grafts, or even tooth replacement with dental implants.
Beyond the Immediate Dental Costs
What makes delayed deep cleanings particularly expensive isn’t just the dental work itself – it’s everything that comes with advanced gum disease. When gum disease progresses, it doesn’t just affect your mouth; it can also impact your overall health. Research continues to show connections between untreated periodontal disease and serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Consider Sarah, another patient from our Normandy Park area, who delayed her deep cleaning for three years. By the time she came to see us, she needed not just the deep cleaning but also several tooth extractions and replacement options. The treatment plan that could have been addressed with a few hundred dollars in preventive care had ballooned to over $8,000 in restorative work.
The hidden costs extend beyond the treatment room as well. Advanced gum disease often requires multiple appointments, time off work, and the discomfort associated with more invasive procedures. Many of our patients tell us they wish they had understood these ripple effects when they first postponed their recommended deep cleaning.
Making Deep Cleanings More Affordable
We know that dental costs can create real financial stress, which is why we work hard to make necessary treatments accessible for our Burien families. Here are several ways we help patients manage the cost of deep cleanings:
- Insurance maximization: Most PPO plans cover 80-100% of deep cleaning costs when classified as periodontal maintenance
- Cherry financing options that break treatment costs into manageable monthly payments
- Flexible scheduling that allows you to complete treatment in stages if needed
- Honest discussions about timing so you can plan financially while still addressing the issue promptly
The key is having an open conversation about your financial concerns during your appointment. We’d rather work with you to find a solution than see you delay treatment and face much larger expenses later.
A Different Approach to Dental Investment
At our practice, we encourage patients to think about deep cleanings not as an expense, but as an investment in their long-term health and financial well-being. When you consider that a single dental implant can cost $4,000-6,000, while a deep cleaning might save that tooth for decades, the mathematics become much clearer.
Dr. Andy Kim always tells patients that the best dental work is the work you never need. By addressing gum disease early with a deep cleaning, you’re potentially avoiding root canals, extractions, implants, and the more complex periodontal treatments that become necessary when the condition progresses.
Trust Your Burien Dental Team with Dr. Andy Kim
The hidden costs of delaying deep cleanings extend far beyond dollars and cents; they impact your comfort, confidence, and overall health. At Burien Signature Dentistry, Dr. Andy Kim and our experienced team have helped countless Washington families address gum disease before it becomes a major financial burden. We accept most major PPO insurance plans and offer Cherry financing to make your treatment as affordable as possible.
Don’t let financial concerns today create much larger expenses tomorrow. Contact our friendly team at (206) 246-3222 to discuss your deep cleaning options and learn more about making this important investment in your oral health.
