Dental costs in San Mateo, CA: local dentist prices

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

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 Mateo

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	$4,573 – $4,985	$4,639	13	$4,639 – $5,097
Full braces, teenager	$4,573 – $4,861	$4,608	12	$4,608 – $4,979
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,454 – $1,783	$1,566	14	$1,566 – $1,820
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,143 – $1,197	$1,171	13	$1,171 – $1,361
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,112 – $1,264	$1,164	14	$1,164 – $1,366
Full upper denture	$997 – $1,084	$1,069	14	$1,069 – $1,214
Full lower denture	$1,016 – $1,090	$1,058	14	$1,058 – $1,154
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$894 – $1,081	$980	14	$980 – $1,207
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$913 – $1,060	$962	15	$962 – $1,100
Root canal, molar	$803 – $900	$867	13	$867 – $960
All-ceramic crown	$803 – $882	$847	15	$847 – $982
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$785 – $880	$838	15	$838 – $899
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$830 – $959	$838	13	$838 – $1,093
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$699 – $832	$761	14	$761 – $893
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$698 – $796	$751	15	$751 – $865
Root canal, premolar	$617 – $720	$664	15	$664 – $753
Root canal, front tooth	$513 – $632	$570	15	$570 – $655
Bone graft at an implant site	$268 – $395	$356	14	$356 – $471
Hard night guard for grinding	$322 – $406	$353	13	$353 – $413
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$325 – $369	$352	15	$352 – $388
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$297 – $336	$322	15	$322 – $347
Surgical tooth extraction	$182 – $234	$193	13	$193 – $242
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$166 – $198	$189	13	$189 – $224
Core build-up under a crown	$150 – $192	$175	16	$175 – $208
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$142 – $170	$146	15	$146 – $197
Silver filling, two surfaces	$112 – $130	$117	15	$117 – $149
White filling, back tooth	$110 – $133	$114	14	$114 – $153
White filling, front tooth	$100 – $121	$107	15	$107 – $139
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$92 – $124	$106	13	$106 – $139
Simple tooth extraction	$96 – $137	$106	13	$106 – $145
Silver filling, one surface	$92 – $102	$96	13	$96 – $113
Full-mouth X-ray series	$90 – $102	$93	14	$93 – $111
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$88 – $139	$92	14	$92 – $155
Emergency visit for dental pain	$63 – $108	$72	14	$72 – $125
Adult teeth cleaning	$63 – $75	$65	13	$65 – $84
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$48 – $62	$53	13	$53 – $67
Child teeth cleaning	$47 – $55	$48	15	$48 – $61
Four bitewing X-rays	$41 – $51	$46	12	$46 – $55
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$36 – $42	$38	14	$38 – $44
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$32 – $43	$35	13	$35 – $48
Fluoride varnish treatment	$28 – $35	$29	14	$29 – $36

San Mateo compared with California

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both San Mateo and California as a whole, 14 run above the state median and 27 below. The largest local saving is on Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant: $92 here against $110 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in San Mateo

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 $412. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $1,515.

Observed negotiated prices in San Mateo, 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, adult	$4,573	$4,985	$412	13
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,454	$1,783	$329	14
Full braces, teenager	$4,573	$4,861	$288	12
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$894	$1,081	$187	14
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,112	$1,264	$152	14
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$913	$1,060	$147	15

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 Mateo

These are federally funded health centres in San Mateo. 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 Mateo. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
39th Avenue Campus - Outpatient Clinics	222 W 39th Ave	(650) 573-2222 · Website
Central County Mental Health Ctr	1950 Alameda DE las Pulgas	(650) 573-3571
Edison Clinic	222 W 39th Ave	(650) 573-2358 · Website
HCH Mobile Dental Van	222 W 39th Ave	(650) 573-2561
HealthRIGHT360- San Mateo Clinic	117 N San Mateo Dr, Ste 1	(650) 425-9408
Mobile Health Clinic	225 37th Ave	(650) 573-2786 · Website
North East Medical Services - 35 Baywood	35 Baywood Ave	(888) 500-1886
Ron Robinson Senior Care Center	222 W 39th Ave # S-131	(650) 573-2426 · Website

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 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 San Mateo practices are behind these figures?

Between 12 and 16 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A San Mateo figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a San Mateo dentist charge me these amounts?

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