How Much Does a Cavity Filling Cost?

What you are paying for

What goes into the cost of a cavity filling

A filling generally costs between $150 and $400 without insurance, with about $250 typical. The fee is set per tooth and reflects two things above all: how many surfaces of the tooth the filling covers and which material is used. It pays for the anesthetic, the dentist's time removing decay, the filling material and bonding agents, and the shaping and polishing. Because it is a short, single-visit procedure, there is no lab bill. What the fee tends not to include is the checkup and X-rays that found the cavity in the first place, and laughing gas if you ask for it. Each tooth is charged separately, so three small cavities found at one checkup produce three filling fees. A deep cavity may also need a protective liner under the filling.

Ways the bill can come down

The most reliable way to pay less is to have cavities filled while they are small, since fewer surfaces mean a lower fee and a small filling now avoids a crown or root canal later. Fillings are among the treatments dental plans most often help with, so ask the office to check your benefits and whether your plan treats white and silver fillings differently on back teeth. Ask which materials are suitable for the tooth and what each would cost. Dental schools and community health centers provide fillings at reduced or sliding-scale fees. Between visits, the preventive steps your dentist recommends, such as fluoride and sealants on deep grooves, are far cheaper than any filling.

Table 1 — Factors that affect cavity filling cost

Factors That Affect Cavity Filling Cost

1. 01

   Number of surfaces

   Dentists count the surfaces a filling touches: the chewing surface, the sides facing neighboring teeth, the cheek side and the tongue side. A one-surface filling costs least, and each added surface raises the fee.

2. 02

   Composite or amalgam

   Tooth-colored composite usually costs more than silver amalgam, because the material is pricier and placing it in bonded layers takes longer. Not every office offers both.

3. 03

   Front tooth or back tooth

   Back teeth are harder to reach and keep dry, and composite on a molar often carries a higher fee than on a front tooth. Some plans pay for a back-tooth composite at the amalgam rate and leave you the difference.

4. 04

   How deep the decay goes

   A cavity close to the nerve takes more care to clean out and may need a liner or base beneath the filling. If the nerve is exposed, the plan and the cost change altogether.

5. 05

   Replacing an old filling

   Removing a worn or cracked filling adds a step, and there is often fresh decay underneath, so the replacement tends to be larger than the original and priced accordingly.

Table 2 — Payment options

Payment Options

• Dental Insurance

  Plans usually pay part of the cost of covered procedures after a deductible, up to an annual maximum. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate.

• Payment Plans

  Many dentists offer in-house financing or work with CareCredit.

• Dental Discount Plans

  A yearly membership that gives reduced fees at participating dentists. Not insurance; check what it covers.

• Dental Schools

  Dental school clinics charge lower fees for care by supervised students. Appointments take longer.