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Going to the dentist isn’t just inconvenient. It’s getting more expensive.
Between 1996 and 2015, the cost of dental care for an individual increased by 23% when adjusted for inflation, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Inflation has led to even higher dental costs in the past year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index reports that dental costs rose 5.4% between October 2021 and October 2022.
Find out how much dental work costs—and how to pay for it.
Selected dental insurance partners
Average cost of common dental procedures
There are many different types of dental work that can be performed, ranging from routine care to major medical procedures. We asked Steve Seigel, co-founder of Flossy, a discount pay-as-you-go dental company, to help narrow down the most common procedures.
Here are the average costs for the most common procedures, according to an analysis by the American Dental Association.
Average dental costs
How to pay for dental work with dental insurance
Insurance can help reduce the cost of dental care. Dental insurance can save you thousands of dollars a year, depending on the policy and the type of dental work.
How does dental insurance work?
Most medical plans do not include dental work, so dental insurance is sold separately. Dental insurance works similarly to health insurance (although it’s usually much less expensive). You pay a premium in exchange for a certain amount of coverage.
The components of dental insurance costs include:
- Deductible: Your deductible, which is usually annual, is the amount of money you pay before your insurance pays for dental services. For example, if you have a $50 dental insurance deductible, the company will pay a dental claim minus that $50 amount. This means the insurer will pay $250 for a $300 dental bill.
- Annual maximum: The annual maximum is the maximum amount your dental insurance will pay in one year for services. This can be $1,000, $2,000, or a different amount. Some policies have annual and lifetime maximum amounts for certain dental services, such as braces. Once you reach the maximum, you pay for the remaining covered dental services.
- Counterpayment: This is a fixed amount that you pay at the time of treatment.
- Co-insurance: Once your deductible is met, you are responsible for paying a fixed percentage of the total amount billed for an insurance-covered service. The exact rate depends on the policy and the type of dental work. For example, dental plans often cover 100% of the cost of preventive care, 80% of basic care like fillings, and 50% of major care like crowns. You bear the rest of the costs.
What does dental insurance cover?
Dental insurance does not usually cover all costs and some procedures may not be covered. Dental insurance coverage typically applies to three categories of dental care:
Dental insurance categories and typical reimbursement levels
Be sure to read the fine print to see exactly how much your policy covers. Although dental insurance typically covers 80% of essential services and 50% of major services, policies may offer less or more generous coverage.
Dental insurance policies do not usually cover purely cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening. Orthodontic procedures, such as braces, may also be excluded from a dental insurance plan or limited to children only.
Certain things may also be considered a medical procedure rather than a dental procedure. Some types of oral surgery, for example, may need to be billed to your health insurance. What is covered and by what type of insurance may vary from case to case.
That’s why it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist before undergoing a major procedure. You’ll want to know exactly what’s covered and what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
How to get dental care with insurance
Since you could be facing a big bill even if you have dental insurance, it’s important to be strategic about when you have certain procedures done.
Benefit from preventive treatment
Routine and preventive services are almost always 100% covered by dental insurance. Make sure you get regular dental checkups and cleanings every six months or you’re throwing money away and potentially letting a small dental problem grow into a bigger problem.
Group proceedings in the same year
Dental insurance usually comes with annual deductibles, so bundling multiple dental procedures within the same calendar year may work best. But remember that dental policies also have annual caps, so it may not make sense to bundle two expensive procedures in the same year that far exceed the annual maximum.
Stay in network
Dental insurance policies usually have networks of providers. Depending on the policy, your insurance may pay nothing for out-of-network care or pay a lower amount. Staying with an in-network dentist will ensure you pay the least out of pocket.
What if you don’t have dental insurance?
Some dental procedures are quite expensive, but if you don’t have dental insurance, there are ways to save money.
Consider these options if you need help covering the cost of dental work.
Negotiate the price
Depending on the procedure or the dentist, the price for your dental work may not be fixed. If your dentist is recommending an expensive procedure, start by asking a few questions.
For one, make sure all work is medically necessary. some cosmetic procedures (such as teeth whitening) may be beneficial, but are not critical to your health. Then find out if any discounts are available. For example, you can try to negotiate a 10% discount for paying cash up front.
Ask about a payment plan
If you can’t get a discount, see if your dentist will let you set up a payment plan. They may charge a modest interest rate. Or at the very least, your dentist may be able to push the due date on your bill back a few months to give you time to save up for the procedure.
Get a personal loan
Instead of charging dental work to a high-interest credit card, look into taking out a personal loan. These loans can be used for almost any purpose and come with relatively low interest rates as long as you have decent credit. You’ll also enjoy fixed payments over a few years, which helps spread the cost.
Consider dental integration plans
An alternative to insurance, membership plans allow you to pay an annual membership fee in exchange for preventive care and discounts on other procedures.
Use a health savings account
Health insurance companies offer high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), which often have health savings accounts (HSAs). These accounts allow you to save tax-free for future health care needs, including many dental care services such as regular checkups, cleanings, fillings, root canals and extractions.
You need an HDHP to contribute to an HSA, but even if you no longer have an HDHP, you can use money saved in the account.
Find the best dental insurance companies of 2023
