How Much Does a Dental Filling Cost Without Insurance?

The experts at the National Dental Advisory Service released a report in 2020 of average national fees for specific dental work. We used the 80th percentile of that report to come up with these average full prices.

This is what you’ll pay the dentist directly at the time of your visit.

This kind of filling is made of a mixture of metals including liquid mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It covers 1 surface of your tooth. The mercury levels are low enough that the FDA has determined amalgam fillings to be safe for ages 6 and up.

This kind of filling is made of a mixture of metals including liquid mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It covers 2 surfaces of the same tooth. The mercury levels are low enough that the FDA has determined amalgam fillings to be safe for ages 6 and up.

This kind of filling is made of a mixture of metals including liquid mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It covers 3 surfaces of the same tooth. The mercury levels are low enough that the FDA has determined amalgam fillings to be safe for ages 6 and up.

This kind of filling is made of a mixture of metals including liquid mercury, silver, tin, and copper. It covers 4 surfaces of the same tooth. The mercury levels are low enough that the FDA has determined amalgam fillings to be safe for ages 6 and up.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers one surface on a front, or anterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers two surfaces on a front, or anterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers three surfaces on a front, or anterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers four surfaces on a front, or anterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers one surface on a back, or posterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers two surfaces on a back, or posterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers three surfaces on a back, or posterior, tooth.

This kind of filling, which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers four surfaces on a back, or posterior, tooth.

A simple extraction (ADA Code 7140) is often known as “pulling a tooth.” Enough of the tooth is exposed that the dentist is able to numb and pull the tooth without surgery being necessary. We show this example here because it is the most common, but your dental plan will save on any type of tooth extraction, even impacted wisdom teeth.

There are many different kinds of dentures and some are built to last longer than others. This is a standard full upper (maxillary) plate, but your dentist may also have other options that are either more or less expensive.

While this example is for a root canal on a front, or anterior, tooth (ADA Code 3310), your dental plan will also save on bicuspid and molar root canals.

This example is for a root canal on a bicuspid tooth, or a tooth in the middle of your mouth (ADA Code 3320).

This example is for a root canal on a molar, or a tooth in the back of your mouth (ADA Code 3330).

Porcelain on the outside matches the color of your teeth, while the metal base strengthens the crown. High noble metal is made of a mix of at least 60% gold, palladium, or platinum (ADA Code 2750). Your dental plan will save on this type of crown and any other type of crown at an in-network dentist.

Porcelain on the outside matches the color of your teeth, while the metal base strengthens the crown. The base of this crown (ADA Code 2752) is a mix of at least 25% noble metal (gold, palladium, or platinum) with base metals (nickel, chrome and beryllium). Your dental plan will save on this type of crown and any other type of crown at an in-network dentist.

This kind of filling (ADA Code 2330), which is made of plastic and very tiny glass particles, is designed to match the color of your tooth. It covers one surface on a front, or anterior, tooth. Your plan will also save on amalgam fillings and fillings that cover more surfaces of your teeth.

Payment for braces is usually broken up into installments. Your dental plan will save on your initial consultation as well as all your payments over the life of the braces. While this example is for children’s orthodontic treatment (ADA Code 8070), you will also save on adolescent and adult orthodontic treatment.

During a deep cleaning or scaling/root planing (ADA Code 4341), teeth are cleaned below the gum line to treat advanced gum disease, which can cause irreversible jawbone loss and gum recession if left untreated. This is priced per quadrant.

If you have been treated for advanced gum disease in the past, periodontal maintenance (ADA Code 4910) replaces your normal dental cleaning or prophylaxis to care for your gums and tooth roots in addition to the exposed part of your teeth.

Osseous surgery removes or reshapes damaged bone around teeth that have been affected by periodontal disease (ADA Code 4260).

During a cleaning (ADA Code 1110), the hygienist removes plaque and tartar from your teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. A cleaning is usually recommended every 6 months.

During a children’s cleaning (ADA Code 1120), the hygienist removes plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. A cleaning is usually recommended every 6 months.

Your dentist may recommend sealant (ADA Code 1351) to help prevent tooth decay, especially for teeth in the back of your mouth. The sealant is placed in the deep grooves on the chewing surface of teeth, where cavities are most likely to occur.

A panoramic X-ray (ADA Code 0330) captures your entire mouth in a single image with a rotating arm on the machine that goes around your head in a semicircle. Your dental plan will save on this and any type of X-ray you need.

There are many kinds of X-rays (and you’ll save on all of them), but a full mouth X-Ray (ADA Code 0210) is usually reserved for patients who are new or have not visited the dentist in a few years.

Four bitewings (ADA Code 0274) are usually taken once a year for existing patients and allow the dentist to easily see changes that have occurred in your mouth and measure them against your baseline full mouth X-ray.

During a periodic oral exam (ADA Code 0120), the dentist or hygienist checks for cavities and gum disease. A periodic oral exam is usually recommended every 6 months.

A comprehensive oral exam (ADA Code 0150) is often performed at a first-time visit or once every few years. It gives the dentist a baseline picture of your overall dental health.