How much is a scale and clean?

A scale and clean will cost around $200 without health insurance, but it’s free with most basic extras policies.

Who is this cover for?

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.

Extras Cover

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.

No Extras Cover

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?

ResponseFemaleMale
Check ups14.94%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 $97,000 income and living in Sydney.:

1 - 20 of 56
Name Product AUFHI-NEW Treatments Price Apply
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$12.97
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
black 50 saver
Extras cover
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
$14.17
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Frank Basic Extras
Extras cover
Frank Health Insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$14.48
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Freedom 50
Extras cover
Bupa HI Pty Ltd logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
$15.08
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Basic Extras
Extras cover
HBF Health Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
$20.39
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Frank Easy Extras
Extras cover
Frank Health Insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$21.34
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
GMHBA Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$22.32
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Starter Extras
Extras cover
Bupa HI Pty Ltd logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
$24.28
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Frank Health Insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$27.10
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Medibank Private Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +3 other treatments covered
Want up to 8 weeks free plus a $50 gift card? Join and maintain eligible Extras cover by 4 Dec 2024. T&Cs Apply. Excludes Healthy Living Extras. Learn more.
$27.82
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Medibank Private Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +2 other treatments covered
Want up to 8 weeks free plus a $50 gift card? Join and maintain eligible Extras cover by 4 Dec 2024. T&Cs Apply. Excludes Healthy Living Extras. Learn more.
$27.86
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
GMHBA Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +1 other treatments covered
$32.19
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
value extras
Extras cover
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +3 other treatments covered
$32.80
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
GMHBA Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
$34.04
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Frank Health Insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +3 other treatments covered
$35.40
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
HBF Health Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +2 other treatments covered
$36.57
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +2 other treatments covered
$37.28
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
Medibank Private Limited logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +3 other treatments covered
Want up to 8 weeks free plus a $50 gift card? Join and maintain eligible Extras cover by 4 Dec 2024. T&Cs Apply. Excludes Healthy Living Extras. Learn more.
$37.51
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +4 other treatments covered
$38.04
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
ahm health insurance logo
  • General dental
  • Major dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic
  • Psychology
  • Remedial massage
  • Hearing aids
  • +2 other treatments covered
$38.30
per month
Go to Site
All treatments
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Alanna Glenn's headshot

"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."

Publisher

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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.

FAQs

Gary Ross Hunter's headshot
Editor, Insurance

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 646 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living

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