Costs of Dental Procedures in the US

[erica14]

Sorry for the back to back posts, but I have a lot of questions. So happy to have found this resource.

I'm 24 and working on getting to the dentist for the first time in several years. This will be my first time paying for my dentist bill, and I am curious about costs. I'm not sure the extent of my dental issues, but I will likely need to have cavities filled, a broken tooth (more than half broken off) repaired, and impacted wisdom teeth removed.

To anyone (in the US) who has had these procedures, how much did they cost you? Do dentists reduce the cost-per-procedure when you need a lot of work done?

Any insight would be helpful, thanks so much!

 

[littlething]

Hi and welcome!

You will find that costs vary widely based on individual practices, geographical location, the experience of the dentist, etc. For example, I live in one of the most expensive areas in the country (San Francisco bay area), and found my dentist to be around average for the area, but much higher compared to the rest of the country. For example, I've paid around $250 for a one-surface composite filling in a rear tooth, but I've also read around here that people in other parts of the country have gotten the same for something like $150.

Some offices may work with you on the costs...I have heard of some offices give you a small discount if you pay out of pocket instead of through insurance (my dentist's office does not, but I've read of some offices that do). You can also ask about payment options, i.e. Care Credit.

Good luck! Good dentistry is expensive, but it is an investment and to me, it has been worth every penny.

 

[comfortdentist]

Most important I mean really most important thing is that you receive the right treatment.
Try to make sure that you will be receiving the treatment best for you. Unfortunately there are too many dentists in most of the USA so too many are creating work.

 

[marclar]

The cost could vary quite a bit depending on your situation. Here are the main variables to take into account. These will mostly depend on your dental benefit provider:

1. Check whether you have a PPO or HMO plan. They are based on different principles. PPO plans are always better.
2. Maximum annual coverage. This is a huge one. It defines how much the benefit provider will pay out per year. Some most common maximums are 1000 - 2000 $USD.
3. Wait period (if applicable). This will not be applicable if you have a corporate coverage through your job. However, if you purchased the benefit package yourself, it will ALWAYS have a waiting period for major procedures. Standard waiting period is 12 to 18 months. Basic exam, cleaning and, in some cases, fillings will be covered. Anything above that (e.g. root canals, extractions, crowns...) will not be covered at all until the waiting period is over.
4. Deductibles. Each procedure will have a deductible that is dictated by your plan. Download a complete procedure listing from the plan website, if possible. Check deductibles for the procedures you are planning to do. Example: I need to do an extraction for one tooth and a root canal + porcelain crown for the other. My insurance pays 50% for root canals and porcelain crowns which cost about the same (~1,600.00 USD each). This means that that tooth will cost me about 1600 bucks after insurance copays. The extraction will be covered partially, because the cost will take me out of my 2000 USD per year maximum. The insurance will pay ~400 and I will pay the rest.

Unfortunately, there are some other aspects that could require unexpected expenditures. My dental coverage, for example, likes to low ball dentists when submitting claims. When they negotiate, the coverage provider sets fixed payouts for certain procedures and refuse to pay the 50% of the cost requested by the dentist. About a month after each visit I get a bill for a couple-three hundred bucks due to this. It varies by carrier and state.

Good luck.