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There are a number of things which will generally affect the pricing of treatment for periodontal disease.

Severity

The earlier treatment is carried out, the less damage there has been to the gums and bone. Often, early periodontal disease can be treated successfully by a dental hygienist or dentist. When the disease progresses, that’s when the periodontist is generally needed. Given they are specialists who have completed 3 years’ additional training after dental school, the costs rise considerably.

With moderate periodontal disease, you may get away with needing only full mouth scaling & root planing. This decontaminates the mouth and is very successful for most people.

After initial treatment, the periodontist will reassess your condition and see if there are any areas of persistent issues. There can be some local anatomical issues, for example, or deep local pocketing around a tooth that needs additional measures. The cost of these would usually depend on the time taken as well as the materials used. Some graft materials can cost €500 on their own, for example. Your periodontist will give you a fully priced plan at this point so there are no surprises.

Number of Quadrants

Fees are often related to the number of sections (quadrants) of the mouth. For example, if you have gum disease on your top teeth only, there would be 2 quadrant treatments. If you were missing teeth in an area, that would not be charged for.

Surgical Treatment

When required, this is a more significant procedure and it involves lifting a gum flap to decontaminate the root surface beyond what can be done in a non-surgical approach. Due to the need for sterility and specialised instrumentation, this is more expensive.

Specialisation

Non-standard treatments such as laser therapy are extremely effective in treating periodontal disease. They are naturally much more expensive given the nature of lasers.

Regeneration

If you need regeneration procedures, these are significantly more expensive than root planing & scaling. The material costs are very significant and you would be individually quoted for this. For single areas, the cost will be less than full mouth treatment.

Tax Relief

Periodontal treatment is normally tax-deductible in Ireland at 20%. You may get a Med 2 form after treatment which can be submitted to Revenue directly or with your accountant.

Clinic Location

Lower-cost areas will often have lower fees due to reduced rent, staff wages, and overhead. Do remember, when choosing a clinic, that you may be a regular attender and you may not want a long journey each time.

Insurance Cover

Typically, dental insurance with VHI or others will contribute towards the cost of necessary periodontal treatment.

Final Thoughts

Periodontal treatment is not inexpensive, but compared with the cost of replacing teeth or implants, it is a very solid investment. For the price of a single implant, a periodontist can often save a whole set of teeth from loss. Your own teeth are the best set of teeth, and they should be saved if at all possible. 

Periodontal treatment is not inexpensive, but compared with the cost of losing teeth, it’s a worthwhile investment in your long-term oral health. In many cases, treating gum disease early can help you avoid more complex - and costly - procedures down the line. If you’re concerned about your gums or have been told you need periodontal treatment, we’re here to help.

Learn more about periodontal treatment or book a consultation with our experienced team today.