Periodontal Treatment Costs

Periodontal treatment costs vary depending on a number of factors including:

• Whether treatment is provided by a general dentist or an accredited periodontist
• Complexity of treatment
• Area of the country
• Insurance coverage available for procedures
• Whether the treatment is considered medically necessary or cosmetic
• Degree of gum disease present (including whether the underlying bone is involved)
• Patient’s response to treatment (failure to follow all oral care instructions at home can lead to lengthier and more costly treatment)

That being said, you can get a general idea of periodontal procedure costs for some of the more common treatments below.

Initial Evaluation

A first-time visit to a periodontist may cost $100-300. This includes the costs of setting up a new patient file, discussing your history of risk factors for gum disease, a full set of x-rays and an in-depth examination of your gums (including probing the depth of the pockets between the gums and tooth roots). Lab fees for identifying the strain of bacteria present in your infected gums may cost extra. If there is a lot of tarter buildup that makes it impossible to clearly see the gums, there is an additional fee for a debridement (deep cleaning).

Scaling and Root Planing

This procedure is used to remove plaque and tartar from along and under the gum line and to smooth the roots of the teeth. It may be done as a prophylactic (preventive) treatment for patients with gingivitis, or as part of a curative treatment for periodontitis. Basic scaling and root planing periodontal treatment costs about $400-500 for the entire mouth.

If the gums must be incised and pulled back from the teeth to allow access to the infected area and the tooth root, this is called a gingival flap procedure. It costs more than $1,000 for the full mouth. With each of these procedures, the total charge is adjusted based on how many quadrants of your mouth actually require treatment and how many teeth are involved in each quadrant. Many patients have only one or two problem areas that require treatment – especially if they see a periodontist before their gum disease gets out of hand.

Gum Surgery

A gingivectomy is one option to reduce the depth of the infected pockets and make gums easier to keep clean. A gingivoplasty is often done at the same time to ensure the final shape of the gum tissue is aesthetically pleasing. The cost is well over $1,000 for the whole mouth. A flap reduction surgery is a more modern approach that cuts away less gum tissue and focuses on helping the existing gum tissue adhere to the tooth more firmly. A flap reduction is somewhat more complex than a gingivectomy, although many periodontists believe it delivers superior results both from a functional and cosmetic standpoint. The periodontal treatment costs for this gum surgery may be about $1,000-2,000 for each quadrant.

Dental Implant

If you have lost a tooth to gum disease (or if your periodontist recommends extraction), you may be fitted with a dental implant to restore your smile. This procedure may involve costs for:

• Extracting the damaged tooth
• Placing the titanium post
• The cost of the abutment (the part that the crown attaches to)
• The cost of the porcelain crown
• Anesthesia provided during the procedure

Total periodontal treatment costs may be $2,000-4,000 for a single implant. However, many cases are more expensive if bone or gum grafting must be done to allow placement of the implant.