How much does dental work cost?
National price ranges for common dental work, what insurance usually pays, and how to pay less. Prices vary a lot by city and practice: use these to know whether a quote is in the normal range.
All dental costs
Preventive careDental cleaning
$75-$200 per visit
Preventive careDental exam and X-rays
$50-$350 per visit
Gum careDeep cleaning (scaling and root planing)
$150-$350 per quadrant
RestorationsCavity filling
$100-$450 per tooth
RestorationsDental crown
$800-$2,500 per tooth
RestorationsRoot canal
$700-$2,000 per tooth
Oral surgeryTooth extraction
$100-$600 per tooth
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth removal
$300-$3,000 for all four
Tooth replacementDental implant
$3,000-$6,000 per tooth
Tooth replacementDental bridge
$1,500-$5,000 for a 3-unit bridge
Tooth replacementDentures
$1,000-$3,000 per full arch
Tooth replacementAll-on-4 implants
$15,000-$30,000 per arch
CosmeticVeneers
$1,000-$2,500 per tooth
CosmeticTeeth whitening
$300-$1,000 in-office treatment
CosmeticDental bonding
$100-$600 per tooth
OrthodonticsBraces
$3,000-$7,000 full treatment
OrthodonticsInvisalign and clear aligners
$3,000-$8,000 full treatment
OtherNight guard
$300-$800 custom guard
OtherEmergency dental visit
$100-$350 exam and X-ray
Gum careGum graft
$600-$3,000 per area
Preventive careFluoride treatment and sealants
$20-$60 per treatment / per tooth
Tooth replacementPartial dentures
$300-$2,500 per arch
Tooth replacementImplant-supported dentures
$5,000-$15,000 per arch
Oral surgeryDental bone graft
$549-$5,148 per graft site
OtherTMJ treatment
$18-$5,000 for non-surgical care
RestorationsApicoectomy
$862-$1,962 per tooth
Oral surgeryFrenectomy
$600-$1,580 per procedure
Gum careGum contouring (gingivectomy)
$50-$350 per tooth
OrthodonticsRetainers
$181-$344 average per retainer
RestorationsInlays and onlays
$250-$1,500 per tooth
RestorationsChipped tooth repair
$142-$3,254 per tooth
Why dental prices vary so much
- Location: fees in big cities can be 20-40% higher than in small towns.
- Your mouth: extra steps like build-ups, grafts or sedation add up.
- Materials and labs: porcelain, zirconia and gold are priced differently.
- Insurance network: in-network dentists accept the plan’s negotiated fee, which is usually lower than their full fee.
How to check a quote
- Ask for a written, itemized treatment plan with procedure codes (CDT codes like D2740 for a porcelain crown).
- Ask your insurer for a pre-treatment estimate for anything over a few hundred dollars.
- Compare with the ranges here and, for big work, get a second opinion.
Estimate your share with the dental cost estimator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive dental procedure?
Full-mouth reconstruction and All-on-4 implants can cost $15,000-$30,000 per arch.
Does dental insurance cover implants?
Many plans now cover implants at about 50%, but the annual maximum ($1,000-$2,000) limits what they pay.