Periodontal Curettage Prices 2026
Calculate your TDB 2026 reference fee based on the type of treatment (subgingival curettage or flap surgery) and the number of teeth.
Subgingival curettage involves cleaning out inflamed tissue from below the gumline. Advanced gum disease may require flap (open) surgery.
Curettage is usually performed by region. Your clinician decides which teeth to treat at examination.
Approximate Clinician Fee
TDB 2026 reference · VAT excluded
Surprised?
This figure reflects the TDB 2026 minimum guideline tariff. For a personalised quote, please get in touch.
Reference fees are based on the TDB 2026 Guideline Tariff (6-2, 6-6). Prices shown are exclusive of VAT. Your periodontal treatment plan is finalised at examination.
Periodontal curettage prices are one of the most frequently researched topics for patients who have been diagnosed with gum disease or are experiencing advanced gum inflammation, bleeding, or gum recession. Curettage is the procedure in which plaque, calculus, and infected tissue inside the gum pocket are removed using dedicated surgical instruments and ultrasonic systems. It’s a core component of gum disease treatment that reaches beyond the tooth surface and into the root surface and soft tissue beneath the gum.
While standard dental scaling is a surface procedure, curettage extends down into the depth of the gum pocket and removes the sources of chronic gum inflammation (periodontitis). Left untreated, the gums begin to lose their bone support, teeth become loose, and are ultimately lost. Replacing lost teeth may require dental implant treatment, but implant placement becomes more difficult if there is insufficient healthy bone. For these reasons, early curettage is critical for keeping teeth in the mouth.
At our clinic Doredent in Avcılar, Istanbul, curettage is performed by our clinical team using modern piezoelectric ultrasonic devices, dedicated periodontal curettes, and laser-assisted technologies. Before treatment, the stage of disease is determined through clinical examination, radiographic assessment, and periodontal measurements, and a personalised treatment plan is built.
Curettage cost varies with the number of teeth to be treated, the stage of disease (early / moderate / advanced), whether one or both arches are treated, whether surgery (flap operation) is required, and the need for any additional periodontal procedures (soft tissue grafts, biomaterial application).
What Is Periodontal Curettage?
Curettage is a periodontal treatment that reaches into the depths of the gum pocket and cleans out calculus, plaque, bacterial biofilm, and infected soft tissue from the root surface. A healthy gum pocket measures up to 1–3 mm in depth. In progressing gum disease, however, the pocket deepens to 4 mm or more, and in these deep pockets bacteria thrive in an environment that healthy gum tissue can’t reach. Neither a toothbrush, dental floss, nor standard scaling can reach the base of these pockets. Only curettage can bring this infection under control.
The core aim of curettage has three parts. First, to remove all sources of calculus and bacteria from inside the gum pocket. Second, to smooth the root surface (root planing) and make it harder for new plaque to accumulate. Third, to remove infected granulation tissue and create the conditions for healthy tissue healing. When these three steps are successfully completed, the gum pocket shallows, inflammation regresses, and ideally the gum reattaches to the tooth.
Types of Curettage
Different curettage approaches are used depending on the stage of disease and the clinical findings:
Closed Curettage
Mild–Moderate CasesThe root surface is cleaned from inside the gum pocket using curettes (dedicated hand instruments) or ultrasonic devices, without making any incision in the gum. Performed under local anaesthesia. Very effective in cases with pocket depths up to 5 mm. Considered a non-surgical periodontal treatment, with a fast healing process.
Open Curettage (Flap Surgery)
Advanced CasesUsed in advanced cases with pocket depths above 6 mm. The gum is surgically reflected (flap) so that the root surface and bone tissue can be cleaned under direct vision. Biocompatible graft material can be placed in bone defects where needed. The gum is then sutured back into place. Healing takes longer but the result is far more successful.
Subgingival Curettage (Single Tooth)
Localised CasesSingle-tooth curettage performed in areas with localised gum issues. Only the problem area is treated, rather than the whole mouth. Frequently used in patients with regular check-ups where gum disease is caught early. The TDB tariff codes “single-tooth subgingival curettage” separately.
Tunnel Procedure and Hemisection
Specialist SurgerySpecialist surgical techniques used where inflammation has developed in the furcation area (the root divergence of molars). The tunnel procedure makes the furcation area accessible for hygiene; hemisection removes the affected root. These are last-resort approaches that try to preserve the natural tooth in advanced forms of gum disease.
The Curettage Treatment Process
Curettage can be completed in one or multiple sessions depending on the stage of gum disease. A standard closed curettage follows these steps:
Periodontal Examination and Radiographic Assessment
The clinician first carries out a clinical examination, assessing gum colour, oedema, bleeding, tooth mobility, and — in particular — measuring pocket depths from six sites on every tooth with a periodontal probe. A panoramic and periapical radiograph are used to evaluate bone level. This data determines the stage of disease (gingivitis / early / moderate / advanced periodontitis) and the treatment plan.
Preparation and Scaling
A standard dental scaling (supragingival scaling) is usually performed before curettage. This makes the gum surface more accessible. Assessing the patient’s oral hygiene habits and providing training on proper brushing and flossing (oral hygiene instruction) directly affects the success of treatment.
Local Anaesthesia
The treatment area is numbed with local anaesthesia. The mouth is divided into four quadrants, and typically one or two quadrants are worked on per session. Curettage treatment therefore usually spreads across 2–4 sessions. In extensive cases, sedation or IV sedation support can be preferred.
Ultrasonic and Manual Curettage
The gum pocket is cleaned carefully with piezoelectric ultrasonic devices. Fine, long tips enter the pocket and break up calculus and biofilm. Dedicated Gracey curettes are then used for manual curettage to remove any remaining calculus and granulation tissue. The root surface is smoothed (root planing). This step is critical for treatment success.
Pocket Irrigation and Medicament Application
After cleaning, the gum pocket is rinsed with antiseptic solutions (chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, etc.). In advanced cases, a local antibiotic (subgingival medicament) can be placed in the pocket. These applications reduce bacterial load and speed up healing.
Follow-Up and Re-Evaluation
The patient is followed up over a 4–6 week healing period with regular oral care. At the end of this period, periodontal measurements are repeated and the success of treatment is assessed. Pockets that haven’t reduced may need surgery (open curettage). In successful cases, three-monthly periodontal maintenance keeps things healthy.
Factors Affecting Curettage Prices
The cost of curettage treatment varies noticeably from person to person. The main factors are:
Number of Teeth Treated
Curettage is priced “per tooth”. There is a big price difference between single-tooth curettage and full-mouth curettage. The scope of your case (localised / quadrant / full mouth) is determined before treatment begins, and the total cost is calculated based on that number. The TDB tariff specifies a separate fee for single-tooth subgingival curettage.
Stage of Disease
In a patient in the early stage, a single session of standard closed curettage may be enough, while advanced cases may require open curettage (flap surgery), reconstruction of bone defects, and tissue grafting. Each additional surgical step is added separately to the cost. As pocket depth and bone loss increase, treatment becomes more complex.
Closed or Open Curettage
Closed curettage is performed without making an incision in the gum, so it is priced as standard periodontal treatment. Flap surgery (open curettage) is a surgical procedure and is priced separately. The TDB tariff codes it as “flap surgery (subgingival curettage included), per tooth”. Open curettage involves sutures and follow-up appointments.
Adjunct Surgical Needs
In advanced cases with bone loss, grafting (bone graft), membrane application, soft tissue grafts for gum recession, or root coverage procedures may be needed. These are priced according to the biomaterial used (allograft, xenograft, synthetic) and the scope. Regenerative periodontal treatments (PRF, platelet-rich fibrin) can also be selected.
Technology Used
There is a technology gap between traditional manual curettes, ultrasonic scalers, and laser-assisted systems. Laser-assisted periodontal treatment (Er:YAG, Nd:YAG lasers) offers a more atraumatic approach to the tissue, sterilises bacteria, and accelerates healing. The use of additional equipment, however, is reflected in cost.
Number of Sessions
In patients with widespread gum disease, the whole mouth can’t be treated in a single session. The mouth is typically divided into four quadrants, and each quadrant is treated in its own session. Full-mouth curettage therefore takes 2–4 sessions. Periodontal maintenance programmes requiring more frequent check-ups feed into total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because curettage is performed under local anaesthesia, no pain is felt during the procedure. Mild sensitivity, gum oedema, and bleeding can occur for 2–3 days afterwards; these are part of the normal healing process and are easily controlled with prescribed pain relief. With modern laser-assisted systems, comfort is noticeably improved both during and after the procedure.
No. Dental scaling (supragingival scaling) only removes calculus above the gumline, while curettage reaches into the gum pocket to clean the root surface and the area beneath the gum. Standard scaling is a preventive procedure, while curettage is the active treatment of existing gum disease. They are two entirely different medical procedures with different indications.
Mild sensitivity and oedema can occur for the first 2–3 days after closed curettage; noticeable improvement is seen within a week. Full periodontal healing (closing of the gum pocket, new tissue formation) takes 4–6 weeks. After open curettage (flap surgery), healing can take 2–3 weeks; sutures are removed within 7–10 days. Soft foods and special oral care should be followed during healing.
Because infected tissue is removed from the gum pocket, the gum tightens after healing and the spaces between the teeth may become more visible. This may initially seem like an aesthetic concern, but in fact it’s a sign of healthy healing. In very advanced cases, soft tissue grafts or papilla reconstruction can be used for aesthetic correction. The priority is keeping the teeth in the mouth — aesthetics are secondary.
Even after successful curettage, gum disease is a chronic condition that requires lifelong follow-up and care. If the patient does not maintain proper oral hygiene or attend regular check-ups, the disease can recur. For this reason, a three-monthly periodontal maintenance programme follows curettage. Correct brushing, flossing, interdental brushes, and mouthwash at home all matter.
No. Antibiotics are not the primary treatment for gum disease. Without mechanically removing the plaque and calculus inside the gum pocket, antibiotics provide only temporary relief while the disease continues to progress. Antibiotics can be used as an adjunct to curettage in aggressive periodontitis cases in particular, but they are never a standalone solution.
Yes — and it’s especially important for patients with diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes both increases the risk of gum disease and accelerates its course. Blood sugar control before treatment is important; the procedure is performed safely in patients with HbA1c at ideal levels. Healing can take longer in uncontrolled diabetes. Coordinating with the endocrinology team is the best approach.
Yes, it can be performed safely, particularly during the second trimester. Hormonal changes during pregnancy create conditions that allow gum disease to progress. There is scientific evidence that untreated gum disease increases the risk of preterm birth. In pregnancy, curettage is a preventive measure for both dental health and the wellbeing of mother and baby.
Soft, lukewarm foods are recommended for the first 24–48 hours. Avoid hot, spicy, sticky, and very cold foods. Tea and coffee can be consumed lukewarm. Smoking very seriously delays healing, so we recommend a break of at least 2 weeks. Alcohol should also be avoided for the first week. Brush carefully with a soft-bristled toothbrush; in the first week, brush the treated area with gentle strokes.
SGK covers curettage treatments performed in contracted state hospitals and oral and dental health centres. Treatment in private clinics is outside SGK coverage; some private health insurance policies may partially cover prosthetic and advanced periodontal treatments. We recommend checking your policy with your insurance provider.
