Fillings cost: prices for every procedure
Filling prices move with two things: the material and the number of tooth surfaces involved. A single-surface white filling on a front tooth and a three-surface filling on a back molar are different procedures with different codes, and quotes are only comparable when the code matches.
Observed dataObserved negotiated rates. Every figure here is a real negotiated amount taken from payer files published under the federal Transparency in Coverage rule. These are what a dental plan pays a contracted practice - not a cash price.
Estimated self-payEstimated self-pay range, not an observation. We do not have observed cash prices, and we will not present a modelled number as though we did. This range is the upper half of the same observed negotiated distribution, shown because an uninsured patient generally pays at or above the highest negotiated tier. Treat it as a budgeting aid and ask any practice for a written quote.
Ranked by median price
Medians only. The table below gives the full observed range and sample size for each.
Observed prices in full
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $130 – $176 | $153 | 25,042 | $153 – $200 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $100 – $137 | $118 | 24,954 | $118 – $156 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $95 – $129 | $110 | 25,241 | $110 – $148 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $91 – $124 | $107 | 25,214 | $107 – $139 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $77 – $104 | $89 | 24,980 | $89 – $118 |
What to watch forMany plans reimburse a white filling on a back tooth at the lower silver-filling rate and bill you the difference. That is a coverage downgrade, not an error, and it is worth asking about before treatment.