How Much Does Periodontal Maintenance Cost?

Rather than being infections within the teeth themselves, periodontal diseases infect the structures surrounding the teeth. Amongst these structures are the:

  • Gums
  • Alveolar bone
  • Periodontal ligament

Bacteria and dental plaque buildup are the most common cause of periodontal disease. The initial stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis which affects only the gums. As the disease progresses, other structures are affected and could lead to symptoms including:

  • Swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Pain when eating or chewing
  • Sudden tooth sensitivity
  • Loose teeth
  • Receding gums

Patients should seek treatment for periodontal disease promptly as it is linked to an increased risk for conditions like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease.

Periodontal Disease Treatment Options and Related Cost

The severity of gum disease will dictate which exact treatment the dentist or periodontist will choose.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Dentists will first try treatments that are nonsurgical and likely begin with a deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. Less invasive than surgery, it often effectively treats minor cases of gum disease. During the scaling portion of the procedure, tartar is scraped off the teeth above and below the gumline. With planing, the roots are then smoothed out making it more difficult for bacteria and plaque to gather. The procedure effectively removes disease causing bacteria and makes it harder to accumulate again.

Price for deep cleaning will vary based on location and choice of dentist but in general, patients can expect to pay $140 to $300. Not all dental benefit plans cover the procedure so patients should review what procedures their plan contributes towards.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Performed to remove tartar in deep pockets and reduce or eliminate the pockets, pocket reduction surgery makes the area easier to clean and prevents future infections from developing. Sometimes referred to as flap surgery, the dentist carefully lifts the gums, cleans the pockets, and removes tartar underneath the gumline. The gums are then stitched securely around the affected teeth. 24 to 48 hours post-surgery, there may be swelling, and patients will likely be prescribed antibiotics. Without dental benefits, flap surgery generally costs between $1,000 to $3,000.

Tissue and Bone Grafts

Should periodontal disease cause the loss of gum or bone tissue, bone or tissue grafts may be recommended by the dentist in addition to flap surgery. To regenerate lost bone and promote growth, the dentist will place synthetic or natural bone around the areas of loss during a bone grafting procedure. If synthetic material is used, cost is typically $300 to $800 whereas bone grafts using natural bone, can cost around $3,000 because of the need for anesthesia and surgery.

Guided tissue regeneration could also be used by the dentist. With this procedure, material is inserted between the gum tissue and bone to aid in regrowth and prevent the bone from growing where it should not.

Soft tissue grafts are used during gum graft procedures and could use synthetic material or tissue harvested from another area of the mouth. The materials are placed over exposed tooth roots to cover and protect them. Cost for a single tissue graft can range from $600 to $1,200.

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