Methodology: How We Calculate Dental Costs

Our goal is to provide the most accurate, up-to-date pricing for dental procedures in the United States. We do not rely on "estimates" or "guesses". Our data is programmatic, verified, and transparent.

1. Data Collection Sources

• ADA Dental Fee Survey: Annual publication from the American Dental Association with average fees by procedure and region.
• Fair Health Consumer Database: Insurance claims database providing ZIP code-level pricing. Updated quarterly.
• CMS.gov Fee Schedules: Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates published by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• State Dental Boards: Licensing and disciplinary data from each state.

2. The "Affordability Score"

We assign each state a score out of 100 to help you instantly gauge value.

A score > 100 means the state offers better value than the national average. A score < 100 indicates higher costs or lower insurance coverage.

3. Verification Process

Our data is updated monthly. Outliers (e.g., extreme luxury clinics or charity cases) are removed to prevent skewing the averages. The "Verified Data 2026" badge indicates the pricing model was re-validated in January 2025.

4. Editorial Policy

Independence: Our content is produced independently and is not influenced by advertisers or sponsors. Dental clinics cannot pay to alter their pricing in our database or receive favorable treatment in our reviews.

Data Review: Our pricing data is compiled and cross-checked by our in-house Data & Research Team against the public sources listed above. Real Dental Costs publishes pricing and market research, not clinical advice — always consult a licensed dentist for diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Corrections: We are committed to correcting errors promptly. If you find an inaccuracy, please contact us.