Dental Cleaning Codes: The Full CDT Reference

Quick Answer

The dental code for a routine cleaning is D1110 (adult) or D1120 (child). A deep cleaning is D4341 / D4342, and ongoing periodontal maintenance is D4910.

D1110 dental code:: prophylaxis, adult. A routine preventive cleaning of the permanent and transitional teeth, usually covered as preventive care.
D4910 dental code:: periodontal maintenance. The recurring cleaning after scaling and root planing, usually every 3 to 4 months; a basic procedure, not preventive.
D4341 / D4342:: scaling and root planing per quadrant, four or more teeth (D4341) or one to three teeth (D4342).

These are ADA CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes, the standardized billing codes your dentist files with insurance and that appear on your Explanation of Benefits. Knowing them helps you read your bill, predict coverage, and spot a miscode.

Cleaning procedure codes

The seven CDT codes that cover every kind of professional teeth cleaning, from a routine prophylaxis to full-mouth debridement.

Code	Procedure	Typical cost	Insurance tier
D1110	Prophylaxis - adultRoutine cleaning of the permanent and transitional teeth for patients with healthy gums. Removes plaque, calculus, and stains at or above the gumline. CDT goes by the teeth, not by age; your insurer may set its own age cut-off.	$75-$200	Preventive - usually 100% in network
D1120	Prophylaxis - childRoutine cleaning of the primary and transitional teeth. Same preventive intent as D1110; which code applies follows the child's dentition, though many plans also apply an age limit.	$50-$150	Preventive - usually 100% in network
D4341	Scaling and root planing - 4+ teeth per quadrantDeep cleaning below the gumline for active gum disease, billed per quadrant when four or more teeth are involved. Therapeutic, not preventive.	$150-$350 / quadrant	Basic - often 70-80% after deductible
D4342	Scaling and root planing - 1 to 3 teeth per quadrantThe same deep-cleaning procedure as D4341 but for a quadrant with only one to three teeth affected. Billed per quadrant.	$100-$300 / quadrant	Basic - often 70-80% after deductible
D4346	Scaling for generalized moderate or severe gingival inflammationFull-mouth cleaning for widespread gum inflammation with no bone loss. Sits between a routine prophylaxis and scaling and root planing.	$150-$300	Basic - coverage varies by plan
D4355	Full mouth debridementGross removal of heavy plaque and calculus when buildup blocks a proper exam. A one-time step before diagnosis, followed by re-evaluation 4 to 6 weeks later.	$100-$250	Basic - coverage varies by plan
D4910	Periodontal maintenanceOngoing cleaning after scaling and root planing for patients with a history of gum disease. Every 3 to 4 months for life. Classified as basic, not preventive.	$100-$250	Basic - often 70-80% after deductible

Definitions reflect ADA CDT 2026. No cleaning code changed for 2026, and none of the 67 changes in CDT 2027 (effective January 1, 2027) touch a cleaning code either. The code set is revised annually by the ADA Code Maintenance Committee. Costs are estimated cash ranges, not published national averages, and vary by region and provider. Insurance tiers follow Delta Dental's description of the common 100-80-50 plan structure: preventive care such as cleanings usually covered at 100% in network (deltadental.com), and basic services, including periodontal cleanings and scaling, often at 70-80% after the deductible (Delta Dental of Tennessee), both read 14 Nov 2026. Your plan's summary of benefits gives the exact percentages. See the methodology for sources.

Codes that appear alongside a cleaning

A cleaning visit is rarely one line on your bill. These exam, X-ray, and fluoride codes commonly share the same Explanation of Benefits.

Code	Procedure	When it appears	Typical cost
D0150	Comprehensive oral evaluation	New-patient or re-establishing exam	$50-$150
D0120	Periodic oral evaluation	Recall exam for an established patient	$25-$75
D0180	Comprehensive periodontal evaluation	Exam for patients with signs of gum disease	$75-$150
D0210	Intraoral complete series of X-rays	Full-mouth radiographic series	$100-$250
D0274	Bitewings - four films	Routine cavity-check X-rays	$35-$90
D1206	Topical fluoride varnish	Often bundled with a child cleaning	$20-$50
D1208	Topical application of fluoride	Excludes varnish; gel or foam	$20-$50

Commonly confused codes

D1110 vs D4910

Both are recurring cleanings, but D1110 is a preventive prophylaxis for healthy gums (preventive tier, usually 100% in network), while D4910 is periodontal maintenance after gum-disease treatment (basic tier, often 70-80%). You cannot bill a routine D1110 once a patient is in maintenance; insurers expect D4910. This is the single most common cleaning miscode.

D4341 vs D4342

Both are scaling and root planing per quadrant. The only difference is tooth count: D4341 is four or more teeth in the quadrant, D4342 is one to three teeth. A claim for a full quadrant billed as D4342 is a common denial trigger.

D1110 vs D4341

A prophylaxis (D1110) cleans at or above the gumline for healthy patients; scaling and root planing (D4341) cleans below the gumline to treat active periodontitis. A deep cleaning is not a more thorough routine cleaning, it is a different procedure with a different insurance tier.

D4355 vs D1110

Full-mouth debridement (D4355) is not a cleaning you choose; it clears buildup so the dentist can actually examine and diagnose. The real cleaning (prophylaxis or scaling and root planing) happens at a later visit once the diagnosis is made.

Dental cleaning code FAQ

What is the dental code for a teeth cleaning?+

A routine teeth cleaning is ADA CDT code D1110 (prophylaxis - adult) for the permanent and transitional dentition, or D1120 (prophylaxis - child) for the primary and transitional dentition. The CDT code follows the patient's teeth, not their age, although many insurers apply their own age cut-off. These are preventive procedures; Delta Dental says plans usually cover preventive care such as cleanings at 100% with an in-network dentist.

What is the dental code for a deep cleaning?+

A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is CDT code D4341 when four or more teeth in a quadrant are treated, or D4342 when one to three teeth are treated. It is billed per quadrant and classified as a basic procedure, which Delta Dental says plans often cover at 70-80% after the deductible.

What is the procedure code for periodontal maintenance?+

Periodontal maintenance is CDT code D4910. It is the recurring cleaning, every 3 to 4 months, that follows scaling and root planing for patients with a history of gum disease. It is a basic procedure, not preventive, so plans often cover it at 70-80% after the deductible rather than at the 100% preventive rate.

Is a dental cleaning code the same as a CDT code?+

Yes. Dental cleaning codes are CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes maintained by the American Dental Association. They are the standardized procedure codes dentists use to bill insurance and that appear on your Explanation of Benefits. The CDT code set is revised annually.

What is the difference between D1110 and D4910?+

D1110 is a routine preventive cleaning (prophylaxis) for patients with healthy gums, in the preventive tier that plans usually cover at 100% in network. D4910 is periodontal maintenance after gum-disease treatment, classified as a basic procedure that plans often cover at 70-80% after the deductible. Once a patient has been treated for periodontitis, insurers expect D4910 rather than D1110.

Types of Cleaning Compared Deep Cleaning Cost Perio Maintenance Cost Cost Without Insurance