A checkup with cleaning averages about $203, a root canal $500-$1,500, a crown $500-$2,000, and a single implant $3,000-$6,000, while full-mouth reconstruction reaches $33,000+. Use the tool below to compare any procedure between two states — cash, insured or with a savings plan — or scroll on to weigh procedures against each other.
Compare two states side by side
Pick a procedure, two states and how you plan to pay. Implant, veneer and braces figures are observed state averages from our open US Dental Cost Index; the other procedures scale the national range by each state's composite Cost Index. Every comparison has its own shareable link.
Estimates from the open US Dental Cost Index (implant, veneer and braces averages observed per state; other procedures scaled by each state's composite Cost Index). Insurance view assumes a typical PPO (preventive ~100% / basic ~80% / major ~50%, $1,500 annual max); savings-plan view assumes 20-40% network discounts. Pricing research, not medical or benefits advice — confirm with an itemized quote.
Dental cost comparison at a glance
Most cost pages bury one procedure on its own page, so the numbers are impossible to weigh against each other. The chart below puts the major procedure families on a single dollar scale, each with its low–high range and the typical average marked. Figures are compiled from published payer and provider fee data (2024–2026), and are deliberately free of any single insurer or financing brand's framing.
U.S. dental procedure cost comparison (2026)
Per-procedure unless noted; All-on-4 is per arch and full-mouth covers both arches. Source: Real Dental Costs — compiled from published payer and provider fee data (2024-2026).
Exam, cleaning & X-rays$50 – $350
$203
Composite filling (1 tooth)$90 – $450
$226
Deep cleaning (SRP, per quadrant)$169 – $352
$242
Tooth extraction (simple to surgical)$75 – $800
$300
Root canal (incisor to molar)$500 – $1,500
$1,100
Crown (metal to ceramic)$500 – $2,000
$1,300
Professional teeth whitening$300 – $1,000
$650
Clear aligners / braces$3,000 – $9,000
$5,500
Single dental implant (post+abutment+crown)$3,000 – $6,000
$4,500
Full set of dentures (both arches)$600 – $8,000
$3,000
All-on-4, per arch$11,640 – $27,500
$15,176
Full-mouth reconstruction$12,577 – $33,272
$22,900
Low–HighAverage
Cost vs typical insurance coverage
The sticker price is only half the comparison. Plans group procedures into three tiers and pay a very different share of each, so a cheap procedure can cost you more out of pocket than an expensive one once the annual maximum is exhausted.
Procedure
Typical U.S. range
Coverage tier
Plan typically pays
Exam, cleaning & X-rays
$50 – $350
Preventive
~100%
Composite filling
$90 – $450
Basic
~70–80%
Tooth extraction
$75 – $800
Basic
~70–80%
Root canal
$500 – $1,500
Basic / Major
~50–80%
Crown
$500 – $2,000
Major
~50%
Dentures (full set)
$600 – $8,000
Major
~50%
Dental implant (single)
$3,000 – $6,000
Usually excluded
0% (related steps ~50%)
Most plans cap total annual benefits at roughly $1,000–$2,000, so for major work the percentage matters less than the cap: once you hit the maximum, you pay the rest in full.
What drives the spread within each procedure
Every range above is wide for the same three reasons, which is why a written, itemized quote beats any headline number:
Material and complexity — a metal crown sits at the low end, ceramic at the high end; a single-surface filling costs far less than a multi-surface one; a molar root canal costs more than an incisor.
Provider type — specialists (endodontists, periodontists, prosthodontists, oral surgeons) charge more than general dentists, which often pays off on complex cases.
Location — major metropolitan areas typically run 20–50% higher than suburban or rural practices for the identical procedure.
How to use this comparison
Find your procedure in the chart and note its low–high range, not just the average.
Check the coverage tier above to estimate what your plan actually pays.
Open the per-procedure guide below to run its calculator and see the cost drivers and hidden add-ons (bone graft, sedation, lab fees) behind your own quote.
Confirm with an itemized written estimate from your dentist before committing.
Already have that estimate? Run it through our Fair Price Benchmark to see whether a crown or implant quote sits in the typical range for your state.
How can I compare dental costs between two states?
Use the free comparison tool on this page: pick a procedure, choose any two states and a payment mode (cash, typical PPO insurance, or a dental savings plan) to see estimated low, average and high prices side by side. Every comparison has a shareable link. Estimates come from the open US Dental Cost Index, which tracks observed state averages and each state's composite cost level.
How can I compare dental costs across procedures?
Use the comparison chart and table on this page: each common procedure is plotted on one shared dollar scale with its low, average and high U.S. range, so you can see at a glance how a filling, crown, root canal, implant or full-mouth case stack up. Then open the per-procedure guide for a calculator and the cost drivers behind your own quote.
How much do common dental procedures cost in 2026?
A checkup with cleaning and X-rays averages about $203, a composite filling around $226, a root canal $500-$1,500, a crown $500-$2,000, a single implant $3,000-$6,000, and full-mouth reconstruction $12,577-$33,272. Ranges are wide because tooth, material, provider and location all move the price.
How much does dental work cost without insurance?
Without insurance you pay the full sticker price shown in the comparison table. With a plan, preventive care (exam, cleaning) is often covered around 100%, basic work (fillings, extractions) around 70-80%, and major work (crowns, implants, dentures) around 50% up to an annual maximum that commonly caps at $1,000-$2,000.
What is the most expensive common dental procedure?
Full-arch and full-mouth restorations dominate: All-on-4 averages about $15,176 per arch and full-mouth reconstruction runs $12,577-$33,272. Replacing both arches with implants commonly totals $36,000 or more, far above single restorations like crowns or root canals.
Why do dental prices vary so much between dentists?
Three factors drive the spread: the material and complexity of the case, the provider type (a specialist charges more than a general dentist), and geography, where major metros typically run 20-50% higher than suburban or rural practices. Getting itemized written quotes is the only reliable way to compare.
Does dental insurance lower these costs, and by how much?
Yes, on a sliding scale by category: preventive services are usually fully covered, basic services partly covered, and major services covered around 50% until you hit your annual maximum. Because that cap is low, the more expensive the procedure, the smaller the share insurance actually pays.
How can I estimate my dental cost before treatment?
Start with the range for your procedure in the table below, then open the matching per-procedure page and run its calculator, which factors in material, complexity and add-ons like a bone graft or sedation. Always confirm the figure against a written itemized quote from your dentist.
How can I lower my dental costs?
Use pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars, check dental school clinics for reduced fees, ask about in-house or CareCredit payment plans, stage major treatment across two calendar years to use two annual maximums, and compare itemized quotes from a general dentist versus a specialist.
verifiedResearched & verified by the Real Dental Costs Data & Research Team
Independent dental pricing research — every series carries a named source, and corrections are logged publicly. Not medical advice.
The Real Dental Costs Data & Research Team publishes the source of every series. Single-implant prices are our own observed dataset, published openly (DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20531728). Braces, veneer, crown and denture prices are from the Average Procedural Cost Study conducted by ASQ360° Market Research for Synchrony's CareCredit. Remaining procedures are compiled from published payer and provider fee data (2024–2026) and are national estimates that vary by provider and location. Corrections are logged publicly.
Pricing & Research Disclaimer: Real Dental Costs publishes independent dental pricing and market-research data for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Costs vary by provider and location — always consult a licensed dentist for clinical guidance and an exact quote.
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