A preventive dental cleaning, formally known as prophylaxis, is a routine procedure designed to maintain oral health by removing plaque and hardened calculus from the teeth. In Alberta, the cost of this service is subject to significant fluctuation across dental practices because the province does not impose mandatory, fixed pricing for dental services. This absence of a uniform pricing structure means the total bill can vary widely, making cost transparency a challenge for patients.
The Alberta Dental Fee Guide and Standard Costs
The Alberta Dental Fee Guide (ADFG) was reintroduced to address consumer concerns over rising costs and a lack of price transparency in dental care. Published and updated annually by the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADAC), the guide provides a benchmark for fees charged for hundreds of procedures. While the ADFG serves as a reference point for practices, insurers, and patients, it is a suggested fee schedule and is entirely voluntary for dentists to follow.
A standard adult dental cleaning is calculated based on time units, usually measured in 15-minute increments. For instance, the ADFG suggested rates for one unit of scaling are approximately $80 to $84, while one unit of polishing is closer to $72 to $75. A routine cleaning often requires three to four units of scaling and one unit of polishing, plus a fee for fluoride application. Based on these benchmarks, the core cleaning portion of the visit generally falls within a range of $300 to $400, depending on the number of scaling units required.
The time-based billing model means the total cost is directly tied to the duration of the procedure, not a single flat fee. Dentists who do not adhere to the voluntary guide may set their fees higher or lower than the benchmark. Patients should confirm whether their chosen clinic’s fees align with the current ADFG to better anticipate their expense.
Defining a Standard Cleaning
A standard dental cleaning encompasses specific actions performed by a Registered Dental Hygienist aimed at removing biofilm and mineralized deposits from the tooth surfaces. The main component is scaling, which involves the meticulous removal of calculus, or tartar, accumulated above and below the gumline.
Calculus is calcified plaque that cannot be removed by regular brushing and flossing and requires specialized instruments like ultrasonic scalers or hand curettes. Following scaling, the hygienist performs polishing, which smooths the tooth surfaces and removes extrinsic stains and residual plaque using a slow-speed handpiece and prophylactic paste.
Finally, a fluoride treatment is often applied to the teeth to help remineralize the enamel and provide protection against dental decay. These three services—scaling, polishing, and fluoride application—constitute the typical prophylaxis treatment billed to the patient.
Variables That Increase the Total Bill
While the cleaning has a calculable base cost, the final total on the patient’s bill frequently exceeds this amount due to necessary ancillary services. The most common additional charge is a periodic or recall oral examination, which the dentist performs to assess the overall health of the mouth and screen for potential issues. This examination fee is separate from the cleaning and adds to the total cost.
Another frequent addition is the cost of diagnostic X-rays, necessary to detect issues like interproximal decay or bone loss not visible during a visual exam. This may include bitewing X-rays, typically taken annually or biennially, or a panoramic X-ray, which provides a full view of the jaw structure. These diagnostic services are essential for comprehensive care but represent distinct charges on the bill.
The actual cost of the cleaning itself can increase if a patient presents with heavy calculus buildup or signs of periodontal disease, requiring more time units for scaling than a typical routine visit. For example, a patient needing five units of scaling instead of the standard three will incur a significantly higher cleaning charge. Furthermore, many clinics apply a separate fee to cover the costs associated with infection control, sterilization, and personal protective equipment (PPE), which contributes a non-service-related charge to the total bill.
Finally, the geographic location of the dental office within Alberta, such as a clinic in a major metropolitan area versus a rural one, can influence the final price due to differences in overhead costs. These bundled services and time-based variables explain why the total amount paid is often higher than the simple sum of the scaling and polishing units.