Periodontal Disease: What is the Cost?
Some studies show that 85 percent of the American adult population over the age of 35 suffer from some form of periodontal or gum disease. From the mildest form of gingivitis in which there is an inflammation of the gums and bleeding to the more severe cases in which there is a possible bone and even tooth loss, there is a varying cost of treatment. Different dental insurance providers cover different parts of the process and even with insurance a patient may end up paying anywhere from $500 to start up to $15,000 before you are done.
There are several factors involved in determining the cost of your treatment for periodontal disease. These may include:
– Where the dentist is located
– How advanced the disease is
– Treatment plan required by the dentist
– Technology used during the procedures
– Number of visits to the dentist or periodontist office
You may initially be seen by your dentist to get diagnosed then be referred to a periodontist with more experience treating this type of disease and more training which usually means paying more money.
The treatment plan set up by your dentist may include regular cleaning which ranges from $30-$75 per visit or scaling and root planing which averages between $140 and $210. This non surgical procedure involves scraping off the tartar and plaque on your teeth and the bacteria in your gums. A local anesthetic is usually administered first. Sometimes the dentist also prescribes oral or topical antibiotics to treat the underlying infection along with a medicated mouthwash. These can cost up to $75 per tooth plus a maintenance fee of around $115 after the procedure is complete.
Your dentist may end up having to perform surgery after this or skip this step and go right to a surgical option. This could include flap surgery or pocket elimination surgery. This surgery involves reducing the pocket gap between the gums and teeth and possible bone surgery to eliminate craters in the jaw bone that may house bacteria. Another option is tissue regeneration which involves grafting tissue to strengthen the gums or grafting bones for bone regrowth after some has been destroyed. Guided tissue regeneration may also be used in which mesh is placed as a membrane to aid in the regeneration of bone. The cost of treatment for this stage of periodontal disease varies between the dentist you choose and the amount of time you spend in the office. It could range from $2400-$3600.
There is also the option of LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) in the treatment of periodontal disease. This is done in 2 separate sessions of about 4 hours each. A local anesthetic is used but you may request sedation if you prefer. A laser is used to remove the harmful bacteria and blood clot forms thus eliminating the need for sutures. The fees for this procedure have a wide range depending on the clinician you choose to perform the LANAP and the severity of your periodontal disease. The cost of this periodontal disease treatment cost ranges from $4,000 up to $15,000.
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