How to Take a Big Bite Out of Dental Costs
Last updated November 2025
Cost matters a great deal in dentistry, especially if you don’t have dental insurance.
Unfortunately, while most dentists received high ratings from patients on our survey questions related to quality of care, scores often dropped considerably when we asked about “keeping costs down.” For example, on average, 88 percent of patients rated their dentists “superior” for “producing the results you expect,” but the average percent rating was less than 60 for our question on “keeping costs down.”
Prices vary considerably from practice to practice. Our undercover shoppers collected prices from a sample of dentists for several common procedures and found that some dentists charge far more than others for the same care. For example, fees for a routine examination and cleaning ranged from less than $182 to more than $334; charges for a porcelain crown for an adult molar ranged from about $1,600 to more than $2,650; some practices bill less than $62 for four bitewing X-rays, others more than $117.
Fortunately, dentists who charge low fees can still be terrific. We find that the highest rated dentists are just as likely to charge lower-than-average prices as those who receive low marks for quality.
If you don’t have dental insurance, request a written treatment plan (with prices) in advance, especially for extensive restorative care. This helps you avoid a surprisingly high bill, and gives you the chance to switch to a lower-cost dentist, if necessary. Almost all dentists will provide free estimates.
Dentists should not make you uncomfortable discussing costs, and should be willing to work out payment plans or alternative treatments if the bill exceeds your means.
Regardless of a dentist’s charges, dental care costs will be high if you are overtreated. Some ways to keep control of expenses:
Do your part.
Good preventive care—regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings—will help you avoid future expenses for treatment and restorations.
Evaluate whether recommended services make sense.
Look for signs of individually tailored treatment—for instance, scheduling different intervals between visits depending on the patient’s propensity for dental disease or calling for a complete X-ray survey no more than every three years, unless special circumstances require more frequent examination.
Get a second opinion.
The most underused consumer tool in dentistry is to get a second opinion before undergoing a costly procedure. To ensure you get appropriate, reasonably priced care, consult a dentist independent of your regular dentist. Weigh any differences of opinion. If you’re still unsure, consult a third dentist.
If you switch dentists, have the new practice obtain your records.
Doing so may spare you costs of redoing tests. For example, unless your new dentist has a good reason to take new ones, full-mouth X-rays from a previous doc are usually good for three to five years. Your former dentist is ethically bound to pass along X-rays and other records.
Ask about specials and discounts.
Some dentists offer periodic specials on certain procedures to draw in patients who have been delaying dental work. Others advertise low-priced package deals—including examination, cleaning, and X-rays—to attract new patients. To save time and money in collecting unpaid bills, many dentists offer discounts if you pay at the time of service. Some offer discounts to special groups such as seniors, fire and police personnel, students, persons with limited incomes, etc.
Double-check your health insurance policy for dental benefits.
If you have kids, they could already have dental coverage under your family’s health insurance plan. Most individual and small-group health plans are required to provide basic dental coverage for children under age 19.
Although most health insurance plans don’t provide dental benefits to adults, it’s still worth checking. Some Medicare Advantage plans, for example, include basic dental coverage, and many “consumer-driven” and “high-deductible” plans let you set aside money for dental expenses.
If you have dental insurance, or are thinking about buying it, make sure you understand the benefits and limitations, which vary greatly from policy to policy. Most plans include groups of participating dentists who accept a specified fee schedule. You’ll probably save a lot by using one of these dentists—and not save much by using a nonparticipating one.
Fund your FSA.
Whether or not you have dental insurance, estimate your likely out-of-pocket medical and dental costs, and stash that money in a flexible spending account (FSA). By setting aside pretax earnings, you effectively get a 20-40 percent discount on out-of-pocket medical costs.
Consider a dental school clinic.
To provide hands-on experience for their students, dental schools operate clinics where students treat patients under the supervision of dental school faculty; the University of California, San Francisco and the University of the Pacific operate such clinics. We’ve found prices at dental clinics to be significantly lower than average prices for dental practices. Keep in mind that if you need extensive treatment, it will probably take longer at a dental school clinic than with a private dentist.