Dental costs in Los Angeles, CA: local dentist prices

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

Treatments priced

in this city

Largest sample

184

practices

State

California

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 Los Angeles

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	$4,490 – $5,104	$4,669	134	$4,669 – $5,629
Full braces, teenager	$4,272 – $4,959	$4,573	134	$4,573 – $5,433
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,452 – $1,839	$1,624	180	$1,624 – $2,077
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,036 – $1,243	$1,154	154	$1,154 – $1,373
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,040 – $1,253	$1,130	153	$1,130 – $1,409
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$931 – $1,166	$1,046	155	$1,046 – $1,291
Full upper denture	$943 – $1,145	$1,005	153	$1,005 – $1,292
Full lower denture	$934 – $1,153	$988	151	$988 – $1,268
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$862 – $1,106	$952	154	$952 – $1,223
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$767 – $1,031	$915	161	$915 – $1,101
All-ceramic crown	$787 – $986	$859	150	$859 – $1,029
Root canal, molar	$755 – $934	$805	167	$805 – $1,009
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$724 – $870	$803	147	$803 – $948
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$693 – $888	$775	149	$775 – $970
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$680 – $829	$756	154	$756 – $896
Root canal, premolar	$584 – $743	$628	168	$628 – $798
Root canal, front tooth	$488 – $647	$545	167	$545 – $702
Hard night guard for grinding	$326 – $413	$378	155	$378 – $428
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$318 – $387	$350	182	$350 – $412
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$277 – $326	$301	177	$301 – $352
Bone graft at an implant site	$247 – $407	$296	148	$296 – $507
Surgical tooth extraction	$176 – $226	$197	184	$197 – $248
Core build-up under a crown	$158 – $206	$180	159	$180 – $226
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$167 – $203	$177	164	$177 – $223
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$142 – $182	$158	160	$158 – $194
White filling, back tooth	$108 – $142	$126	159	$126 – $154
Silver filling, two surfaces	$106 – $132	$119	164	$119 – $143
White filling, front tooth	$96 – $126	$115	158	$115 – $141
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$93 – $140	$113	161	$113 – $155
Simple tooth extraction	$98 – $132	$112	182	$112 – $147
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$90 – $115	$106	153	$106 – $131
Silver filling, one surface	$86 – $105	$97	159	$97 – $118
Full-mouth X-ray series	$85 – $107	$90	160	$90 – $114
Emergency visit for dental pain	$68 – $91	$79	156	$79 – $114
Adult teeth cleaning	$60 – $78	$72	147	$72 – $85
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$49 – $67	$58	152	$58 – $72
Child teeth cleaning	$46 – $59	$51	162	$51 – $63
Four bitewing X-rays	$39 – $53	$46	154	$46 – $58
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$36 – $44	$38	163	$38 – $47
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$31 – $43	$36	151	$36 – $48
Fluoride varnish treatment	$28 – $36	$29	158	$29 – $41

Los Angeles compared with California

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Los Angeles and California as a whole, 12 run above the state median and 29 below. The largest local saving is on Bone graft at an implant site: $296 here against $339 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in Los Angeles

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, teenager alone, the difference between a practice at the 25th percentile and one at the 75th is $687. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $2,431.

Observed negotiated prices in Los Angeles, CA. 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, teenager	$4,272	$4,959	$687	134
Full braces, adult	$4,490	$5,104	$614	134
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,452	$1,839	$387	180
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$767	$1,031	$264	161
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$862	$1,106	$244	154
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$931	$1,166	$235	155

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 Los Angeles

These are federally funded health centres in Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
3CCC - Olympic	3030 W Olympic Blvd, Ste 206	(213) 322-2666 · Website
501 Supportive Services Center	501 S Atlantic Blvd	(323) 268-9191
AICHC-Angeles	3920 Eagle Rock Blvd, Ste A	(323) 255-5225 · Website
AMH Comprehensive Medical Centers - Alvarado	937 S Alvarado St, Suite 1 D	(213) 484-8786 · Website
APHCV - Belmont Health Center	180 Union Pl	(323) 644-3885 · Website
APHCV-Los Feliz Health Center	1530 Hillhurst Ave	(323) 644-3888 · Website
APLA Health & Wellness Center - Baldwin Hills	3743 S LA Brea Ave	(323) 329-9900 · Website
APLA Health & Wellness Wilshire Dental Clinic	1127 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1504	(213) 201-1388 · Website
APLA Health - 3741 S. La Brea	3741 S La Brea Ave	(323) 329-9010 · Website
APLA Health - CDU / MLK Medical Campus	1679 E 120th St	(323) 329-9700
APLA Health - Olympic #401	5901 W Olympic Blvd, Suite 401	(323) 954-1072
APLA Health-David Geffen Center	611 S Kingsley Dr	(213) 201-1600 · Website

California has 2,758 such sites statewide — see the California page.

Other cities in California

Bakersfield Torrance Modesto San Diego Murrieta Redlands Downey Burbank San Mateo Glendale San Francisco Huntington Beach San Jose Aliso Viejo Riverside Irvine Anaheim Fresno Elk Grove Roseville Oxnard Sacramento Santa Monica Sherman Oaks Long Beach Visalia Whittier Redding West Covina Encino El Cerrito Davis Santa Ana Mission Viejo Orange Antioch Loma Linda Pasadena Stockton Oakland Santa Rosa Salinas Colton Arcadia Palmdale Santa Clarita Fremont Chula Vista Escondido Corona Lakewood Napa Santa Barbara Tustin Beverly Hills La Mirada Sunnyvale Walnut Creek Garden Grove Rowland Heights Concord Fontana Camarillo Ontario Rancho Cucamonga Lancaster San Bernardino Laguna Hills Hilmar San Marcos Huntington Park Chino Tracy North Hollywood Temecula Encinitas Ventura Manteca Berkeley Cerritos San Jacinto Martinez Milpitas Upland Lake Forest Woodland Hills Cypress Van Nuys Palo Alto Wildomar Newport Beach Carson Fountain Valley Moreno Valley Culver City Altadena Chino Hills Glendora Bellflower Fullerton Cupertino Menlo Park Alhambra Pleasanton Folsom Canoga Park Thousand Oaks Clovis

California overview · All treatments · Methodology

Common questions

How many Los Angeles practices are behind these figures?

Between 134 and 184 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Los Angeles figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a Los Angeles dentist charge me these amounts?

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