A scale and clean costs between $150 and $350 if you don't have health insurance. Luckily, it's included in most basic extras policies which cost about $3 a week and can cover 100% of the costs.
What is a scale and clean?
A scale and clean removes plaque, calculus and some stains from all the nooks and crannies in your mouth that your toothbrush or dental floss may miss. The whole procedure normally takes about 30 minutes in a dentist chair and can be booked as part of a check-up. It can sometimes include deep cleaning which generally consists of 2 parts:
Scaling – this involves removing plaque from under the gumline.
Root planing – this involves removing plaque and build-up from the roots of your teeth.
What does a scale and clean cost?
With a $3-a-week extras insurance policy, a scale and clean is unlikely to cost you anything. Here's a breakdown of scale and clean costs with and without insurance.
With extras cover
General dental covers a scale and clean, and costs around $12 per month. Many health funds offer no gap dental check-ups (which includes a clean and polish or scale and clean) – so you won't have any out-of-pocket expenses.
Without extras cover
Scale and clean costs between $150 and $350 without health insurance, though prices vary depending on the dentist you go to.
Finder survey: What are the main reasons Australians have dental coverage?
Response
Female
Male
Check ups
14.94%
12.92%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Extras cover that includes deep cleaning
Here are some Finder partners that offer a benefit for a scale and clean. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.:
I'm a bit fanatical about my teeth and like to get them cleaned 4 times per year instead of the usual 2. I took out a high coverage extras policy that gives me unlimited coverage for routine dental - including scale & clean.
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
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Comparing quotes from 30+ funds...
How does a scale and clean work?
A dental scale and clean can help you keep gum disease, tooth decay and other oral health problems at bay. It involves the dentist removing the plaque and calculus that has built up on your teeth with an electric instrument called a scaler.
The scaler moves along your teeth and gums with fast vibrations that loosen the plaque and calculus without damaging your teeth. It removes the plaque, calculus and stains not just on the part of the tooth that you can see, but also just under your gum line. This can pick up any bacteria that may potentially start to damage the root of your teeth.
A scale and clean can also protect your teeth and gums, especially if you already have gum disease that has advanced below your gum line. After the scaler has removed the build-up, the dentist will then use a rotating toothbrush and paste to polish your teeth.
How often you should have a scale and clean really depends on how frequently you brush your teeth and how quickly they accumulate plaque, calculus and stains. As a rule of thumb, most people need a scale and clean once every 3 to 6 months.
Why you can trust Finder's health insurance experts
You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching health insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
FAQs
Deep cleaning teeth costs between $150 and $350 depending on the dentist you go to. You'll generally pay around $200 unless you get extras insurance – in which case you're unlikely to have any out-of-pocket fees.
A scale and clean removes plaque, calculus and stains from your teeth. The procedure is fairly straightforward and usually takes around 30 minutes.
A scale and clean removes plaque, calculus and stains from your teeth. The procedure is fairly straightforward and usually takes around 30 minutes.
It's recommended that you get a dental tooth clean at least 2 times a year. Most basic extras policies can cover you for this.
Most basic extras policies can cover a clean and polish for around $3 a week. You'll generally have a 2-month waiting period before you're covered.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
If you want that perfect smile, you need to be aware of what your private health fund offers you.
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You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching health insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
