How Much is a Dental Cleaning Without Insurance?
How much does a dental cleaning cost without insurance in Canada?
On average, the cost of a routine dental cleaning without dental insurance is between $150 and $400 for most Canadian adults. Costs vary by province and the type of cleaning services included in your bill.
Most private dental insurance plans cover 80–100% of the cost of dental cleanings.
How dental cleaning prices are set
Dental cleaning prices start with your province’s official dental fee guide, which sets the minimum price that dental practices can charge for various dental treatments. Your dental office could choose to charge more than the minimum price, but the fee guide gives a general guideline for how much dental services cost in your province.
Every province issues an updated fee guide each year. The average cost of dental care typically increases by about 2–4% annually to account for rising costs for dental clinics. The minimum price listed in the fee guide is typically the maximum price that dental insurance will cover.
What’s usually included in the price of dental cleaning?
A professional dental cleaning actually involves multiple services, each of which is billed separately. Key services in a standard dental check-up include:
- Scaling, which removes hardened plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline
- Polishing, which removes surface stains
- Oral exams, which evaluate overall oral hygiene and health
- X-rays, which diagnose dental problems not visible through an oral exam
- Fluoride treatments, which strengthen tooth enamel
Not all provinces make their dental fee guides available to the general public. Fee guides for Manitoba and Quebec are not available. Fees listed for Ontario are based on professional sources citing the official Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee guide.
Is it cheaper to pay out of pocket or get dental insurance?
Regular dental cleanings are cheaper with insurance. Most dental insurance plans in Canada cover between 80% and 100% of teeth cleaning costs, with similar coverage for additional services like x-rays and fluoride treatment.
With insurance, the cost of a regular dental cleaning could start as low as $30 out of pocket, with insurance paying the remainder. That’s around $60 for the whole year—a considerable savings compared with the cost of paying out of pocket.
If you have dental insurance through your workplace, province, or the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) that covers all or most of the cost of dental cleanings, you may not need additional insurance.
Should you get dental insurance just for cleanings?
What if you don’t have any dental insurance through work, your province, or the federal CDCP? Is it worth it to buy dental insurance if you only get a cleaning once or twice a year?
An average private health insurance plan with dental coverage costs between $100 and $125 per month for most Canadian adults. That’s a total of $1,200 or more per year—considerably more than the out-of-pocket cost for two routine cleanings.
But don’t just look at the cost of cleanings; consider all the medical costs you could reduce with private insurance.
Coverage for preventive dental care is just one small component of what a private health and dental plan will pay for. Depending on the plan details, your $100–$125/month might also cover:
- Major dental and periodontal services (e.g., deep cleaning below the gum line, root canals, tooth extraction, fillings, and dental implants)
- Accidental dental services
- Prescription drugs
- Eye exams and prescription eyewear
- Paramedical services (e.g., physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy)
- Medical equipment (e.g., hearing aids, mobility devices)
- Mental health care
The cost of private dental insurance could be worth it if you use or want coverage for a wide range of healthcare costs, including major dental procedures. PolicyMe’s Dental Care plan.
How to reduce the cost of a dental cleaning if you don’t have insurance
If you don’t currently have dental insurance, you may be able to reduce the cost of this type of cleaning in a few ways:
- Ask for fee transparency: Ask your dental clinic to explain the cost of each procedure upfront so that you can make informed decisions about your health care.
- Inquire about payment plans: If you can’t afford the full cost of your cleaning right now, see if your dentist is willing to set up a payment plan for you to pay off your balance over time.
- Visit a dental school: Look for dentistry schools in your area that may offer low-cost cleanings from students who need to practice techniques like scaling and root planing.
While the cost of a professional teeth cleaning without insurance may feel intimidating, skipping this treatment could end up costing you more in the long run.
Regular dental cleanings are the first line of preventive care for oral health. A professional cleaning can:
- Reduce your risk of cavities: Slowing tartar buildup puts a stop to tooth decay, which could lead to costly dental problems down the road if not addressed.
- Prevent gum disease: Professional oral cleaning removes plaque and tartar that your routine brushing and flossing at home may not touch.
- Remove bad breath: Your dental hygienist will remove the bacteria associated with plaque buildup, contributing to fresh breath long term.
- Catch potential dental issues: If you have a cavity forming or early-stage gum disease, your cleaning and dental exam may catch these issues early before they become severe.
- Improve overall health: Tooth decay and gum disease are linked to serious health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, and stroke.
FAQ: How much is a dental cleaning without insurance?
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of March 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.