I have been advised to have scaling done to my teeth at the cost of $400 (I have dental insurance). Is this out of line? Some people have told me this is an optional treatment and I am being too loose with my money in agreeing to have this done. What are your thoughts?

hiya,
well, as i'm from england its a different situation over here, dental treatment is subsidised by the government so i can understand that in the USA you might be worried about the dentist making a fast buck by telling you that you need scaling, even though you might not (i hope this isn't the case,i would like to think that all dental professionals are ethical, im training to be a dentist right now and would never DREAM of telling a patient they needed treatment when they don't, even if i did make more money).

on the other hand, if you really DO need scaling, i would definitely get it done because later on you could get major problems. if calculus is left on the teeth, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria and more calculus to grow on it. this can lead to periodontal disease and the bone surrounding your teeth holding them in can be resorbed away making your teeth very wobbly and some may fall out. then we're talking dentures (obviously this is the worst case scenario and very far down the line!)

maybe you should get a second opinion at a reputable dentist (maybe ask your friends if they can recommend anyone?)and shop around for a cheaper one if you do actually need scaling. i'm stunned its $400 over there! that's outrageous!

good luck anyway with whatever you decide to do!

I realize in other countries that prices will definitely vary.

With that said, we need to find out a few things first. What exactly is the $400 covering? The whole mouth? Also, where you live in the U.S. is going to be a huge factor for what you pay for dental services. In the SF Bay area, Scaling/Root planing can be anywere from $175-$275 per quadrant. So, if the $400 is your portion after insurance for the whole mouth, it doesn't seem that unreasonable to me.

The most important thing is if you do need it, and don't do it, you risk losing attachment/more attachment and may require surgery. Osseous surgery is far more expensive than SRP will ever be.

If you're not sure you need the scaling done, by all means get a second professional opinion. I wouldn't go by family members and/or friends who are not familiar with this procedure as a basis not to have it done.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for your replies!

The $400 is for the entire mouth, to be done in 2 treatments at $200 each. This cost includes a special electric toothbrush system with several attachments they say I need and flouride rinse.

My teeth aren't too bad yet, but the dentist did insert a probe and showed me how far back my gums had recessed. I also have a sensitive area that feels like a cavity, but it is originating from the gum area. If it weren't for this early symptom I wouldn't be so concerned, but I don't want this to get worse or spread to other areas.

I just had the left side of my mouth done and it was $350. I think I am probably in a later state of periodontal disease than you. My probes cam back at like 4's through 8's. I even had some loose teeth in the front with a mobility of 1 and I think 2 teeth had 2's. I can tell you that after only 4 days I feel the teeth tightening up. I have been extremely diligent in brushing and flossing after every meal the way they told me to. I never knew that you weren't supposed to actually "brush" but only massage the gums. The procedure was pretty pain free after they numbed me up, but near the end it was a little painfull after the anesthetic started to wear off. They also did a thorough cleaning with the "lasertron" or whatever that thing is called which was extremely painful for me since they didn't numb me first. Let me know how it goes for you.