Dental costs in Tucson, AZ: local dentist prices

Observed negotiated prices for 41 treatments from dental practices located in Tucson.

Treatments priced

in this city

Largest sample

practices

State

Arizona

see statewide data

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.

Observed prices in Tucson

Negotiated columns are observed. The self-pay column is an estimate derived from the upper half of the same distribution — see methodology. Column headings sort the table.
Treatment	Negotiated range Observed	Median	Practices (n)	Est. self-pay Estimated
Full braces, adult	$3,928 – $4,660	$4,270	40	$4,270 – $5,054
Full braces, teenager	$3,800 – $4,444	$4,200	38	$4,200 – $4,858
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,310 – $1,571	$1,475	58	$1,475 – $1,953
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$914 – $1,215	$1,109	49	$1,109 – $1,346
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$924 – $1,260	$1,100	51	$1,100 – $1,338
Full upper denture	$842 – $1,175	$1,064	54	$1,064 – $1,334
Full lower denture	$813 – $1,170	$1,062	52	$1,062 – $1,256
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$881 – $1,144	$1,049	53	$1,049 – $1,342
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$833 – $1,090	$1,005	56	$1,005 – $1,248
All-ceramic crown	$687 – $965	$866	52	$866 – $1,052
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$646 – $886	$810	53	$810 – $925
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$676 – $872	$809	57	$809 – $959
Root canal, molar	$685 – $920	$763	55	$763 – $924
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$684 – $963	$761	59	$761 – $1,184
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$632 – $818	$754	55	$754 – $904
Root canal, premolar	$547 – $732	$640	56	$640 – $786
Root canal, front tooth	$459 – $634	$512	53	$512 – $648
Bone graft at an implant site	$264 – $435	$383	51	$383 – $501
Hard night guard for grinding	$298 – $375	$331	51	$331 – $436
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$283 – $361	$319	55	$319 – $418
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$237 – $306	$268	59	$268 – $351
Surgical tooth extraction	$150 – $232	$193	56	$193 – $250
Core build-up under a crown	$142 – $209	$187	58	$187 – $222
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$146 – $204	$176	50	$176 – $217
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$131 – $178	$160	58	$160 – $199
White filling, back tooth	$101 – $144	$125	55	$125 – $159
Simple tooth extraction	$89 – $132	$118	57	$118 – $149
Silver filling, two surfaces	$97 – $130	$116	58	$116 – $156
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$90 – $143	$114	61	$114 – $193
White filling, front tooth	$91 – $126	$113	57	$113 – $141
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$82 – $115	$97	57	$97 – $120
Full-mouth X-ray series	$82 – $110	$95	59	$95 – $114
Silver filling, one surface	$79 – $101	$93	53	$93 – $128
Emergency visit for dental pain	$62 – $90	$74	58	$74 – $104
Adult teeth cleaning	$58 – $75	$72	55	$72 – $80
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$48 – $69	$58	56	$58 – $75
Child teeth cleaning	$44 – $55	$52	58	$52 – $61
Four bitewing X-rays	$37 – $51	$46	59	$46 – $55
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$31 – $43	$36	58	$36 – $49
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$33 – $42	$36	55	$36 – $47
Fluoride varnish treatment	$27 – $37	$30	54	$30 – $41

Tucson compared with Arizona

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Tucson and Arizona as a whole, 25 run above the state median and 16 below. The largest local saving is on Root canal, front tooth: $512 here against $543 statewide.

See the Arizona state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.

What shopping around is worth in Tucson

Every figure on this site is a distribution, not an average, so the gap between the cheaper and dearer end of the local market can be stated in dollars. On Full braces, adult alone, the difference between a practice at the 25th percentile and one at the 75th is $732. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $2,703.

Observed negotiated prices in Tucson, AZ. The gap is what moving from an expensive practice to a cheaper one is worth for the same treatment.
Treatment	Lower end (25th)	Upper end (75th)	Gap	Practices (n)
Full braces, adult	$3,928	$4,660	$732	40
Full braces, teenager	$3,800	$4,444	$644	38
Full lower denture	$813	$1,170	$357	52
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$924	$1,260	$336	51
Full upper denture	$842	$1,175	$333	54
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$914	$1,215	$301	49

This is an argument for collecting itemised written quotes rather than accepting the first, particularly on the larger items — see how to read a treatment plan.

Lower-cost care in Tucson

These are federally funded health centres in Tucson. They charge on a sliding scale based on your income, which usually makes them the cheapest route if you are uninsured. The federal dataset does not record which sites provide dentistry — many do, but call first and ask specifically about dental services and sliding-scale eligibility.

Active federally funded health centre sites in Tucson. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
Clinica Del Alma	3690 S Park Ave, Suite 805	(520) 616-6760 · Website
El Pueblo Health Center	101 W Irvington Rd	(520) 670-3707 · Website
El Rio Cherrybell Health Center	1230 S Cherrybell Stra	(520) 670-3909
El Rio Health - Grant Health Center	3655 E Grant Rd	(520) 670-3909
El Rio Health Abrams Health Center	3950 S Country Club Rd, Suite 130	(520) 670-3909 · Website
El Rio Health Center of Opportunity	4550 S Palo Verde Rd	(520) 670-3909 · Website
El Rio Health Mobile Unit	1230 S Cherrybell Stra	(520) 670-3909
El Rio Health Stone Health Center	4888 N Stone Ave, #120	(520) 670-3909
El Rio Health University Health Center	434 E University Blvd, #200	(520) 670-3909
El Rio Northwest Medical	320 W Prince Rd	(520) 670-3707 · Website
El Rio Ob/Gyn Associates	225 W Irvington Rd	(520) 670-3707 · Website
El Rio Pascua Yaqui Health Center	7490 S Camino DE Oeste	(520) 879-6006 · Website

Arizona has 263 such sites statewide — see the Arizona page.

Other cities in Arizona

Tempe Phoenix Gilbert Scottsdale Queen Creek Mesa Chandler Glendale Peoria Prescott Flagstaff Anthem Avondale Goodyear

Arizona overview · All treatments · Methodology

Common questions

How many Tucson practices are behind these figures?

Between 38 and 61 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Tucson figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a Tucson dentist charge me these amounts?

Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Tucson. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.