Dental costs in San Francisco, CA: local dentist prices

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

Treatments priced

in this city

Largest sample

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 San Francisco

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	$4,622 – $5,491	$5,028	54	$5,028 – $5,752
Full braces, teenager	$4,424 – $5,451	$4,766	53	$4,766 – $5,485
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,452 – $2,005	$1,681	79	$1,681 – $2,101
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,084 – $1,351	$1,211	67	$1,211 – $1,573
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,113 – $1,344	$1,211	69	$1,211 – $1,567
Full upper denture	$1,010 – $1,304	$1,160	69	$1,160 – $1,488
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$988 – $1,225	$1,152	67	$1,152 – $1,391
Full lower denture	$988 – $1,259	$1,138	67	$1,138 – $1,517
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$894 – $1,178	$1,067	64	$1,067 – $1,278
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$803 – $1,042	$941	62	$941 – $1,179
Root canal, molar	$758 – $1,040	$932	65	$932 – $1,095
All-ceramic crown	$770 – $1,004	$896	68	$896 – $1,084
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$750 – $938	$847	65	$847 – $1,006
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$661 – $946	$814	62	$814 – $1,062
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$693 – $873	$796	65	$796 – $943
Root canal, premolar	$602 – $801	$733	64	$733 – $867
Root canal, front tooth	$525 – $704	$593	66	$593 – $770
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$321 – $426	$379	77	$379 – $453
Hard night guard for grinding	$311 – $407	$364	60	$364 – $464
Bone graft at an implant site	$280 – $439	$342	62	$342 – $477
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$274 – $363	$323	76	$323 – $379
Surgical tooth extraction	$189 – $233	$209	80	$209 – $269
Core build-up under a crown	$164 – $215	$195	67	$195 – $230
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$167 – $215	$195	69	$195 – $246
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$151 – $191	$170	70	$170 – $217
White filling, back tooth	$116 – $142	$129	66	$129 – $166
Silver filling, two surfaces	$112 – $139	$124	71	$124 – $151
Simple tooth extraction	$104 – $136	$120	77	$120 – $159
White filling, front tooth	$105 – $133	$118	66	$118 – $152
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$92 – $133	$115	68	$115 – $139
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$102 – $148	$111	66	$111 – $179
Silver filling, one surface	$93 – $116	$102	69	$102 – $128
Full-mouth X-ray series	$91 – $108	$98	68	$98 – $126
Emergency visit for dental pain	$66 – $90	$86	62	$86 – $113
Adult teeth cleaning	$66 – $84	$75	69	$75 – $90
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$55 – $70	$62	69	$62 – $80
Child teeth cleaning	$50 – $60	$56	61	$56 – $67
Four bitewing X-rays	$45 – $54	$47	60	$47 – $62
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$37 – $45	$42	68	$42 – $52
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$36 – $44	$41	63	$41 – $51
Fluoride varnish treatment	$29 – $41	$37	67	$37 – $44

San Francisco compared with California

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both San Francisco and California as a whole, 40 run above the state median and 1 below. The largest local saving is on Hard night guard for grinding: $364 here against $374 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in San Francisco

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 $1,027. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $3,312.

Observed negotiated prices in San Francisco, 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	$4,424	$5,451	$1,027	53
Full braces, adult	$4,622	$5,491	$869	54
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,452	$2,005	$553	79
Full upper denture	$1,010	$1,304	$294	69
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$661	$946	$285	62
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$894	$1,178	$284	64

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 San Francisco

These are federally funded health centres in San Francisco. 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 San Francisco. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
A Woman'S Place	1049 Howard St	(415) 255-3525 · Website
API Wellness at San Francisco LGBT Center	1800 Market St	—
Adult Medicine Clinics	995 Potrero Ave	(415) 206-8494 · Website
Asian Pacific Islander Wellness	730 Polk St	(415) 255-3525
Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center	726 Polk St, Floor 4	(415) 292-3400 · Website
Balboa Teen Health Center	1000 Cayuga Ave	(415) 469-4512
Bayview Hunters Point Clinic	6301 3rd St	(415) 339-8813
Castro-Mission Health Center	3850 17th St	(415) 934-7700
Children'S Health Center	1001 Potrero Ave	(415) 206-8376
Chinatown Health Center Temporary Site	845 Jackson St	(628) 217-6500
Chinatown Public Health Center	1490 Mason St	(415) 934-7700
Chpy - Larkin Street Youth Center	134 Golden Gate Ave	(415) 673-0911

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

Other cities in California

Bakersfield Los Angeles Torrance Modesto San Diego Murrieta Redlands Downey Burbank San Mateo Glendale 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 San Francisco practices are behind these figures?

Between 53 and 80 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A San Francisco figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a San Francisco dentist charge me these amounts?

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