Dental costs in Santa Barbara, CA: local dentist prices

Observed negotiated prices for 40 treatments from dental practices located in Santa Barbara.

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 Santa Barbara

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	$4,149 – $5,539	$5,190	9	$5,190 – $5,582
Full braces, teenager	$3,957 – $5,282	$4,639	9	$4,639 – $5,323
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,877 – $2,031	$1,988	12	$1,988 – $2,070
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,200 – $1,625	$1,465	12	$1,465 – $1,791
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$1,140 – $1,512	$1,428	13	$1,428 – $1,512
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,200 – $1,466	$1,418	9	$1,418 – $1,487
Full upper denture	$1,132 – $1,602	$1,382	14	$1,382 – $1,638
Full lower denture	$1,111 – $1,623	$1,373	14	$1,373 – $1,674
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$1,120 – $1,371	$1,352	13	$1,352 – $1,419
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$946 – $1,311	$1,154	16	$1,154 – $1,319
All-ceramic crown	$990 – $1,148	$1,069	14	$1,069 – $1,171
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$888 – $1,145	$1,013	11	$1,013 – $1,194
Root canal, molar	$938 – $1,130	$1,000	15	$1,000 – $1,159
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$933 – $974	$935	11	$935 – $1,001
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$788 – $910	$801	9	$801 – $920
Root canal, premolar	$656 – $798	$753	9	$753 – $834
Root canal, front tooth	$546 – $712	$660	11	$660 – $800
Bone graft at an implant site	$258 – $544	$446	11	$446 – $548
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$379 – $426	$397	16	$397 – $449
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$324 – $371	$338	15	$338 – $388
Surgical tooth extraction	$231 – $277	$243	13	$243 – $277
Core build-up under a crown	$204 – $224	$219	9	$219 – $240
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$210 – $258	$217	13	$217 – $258
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$188 – $226	$204	11	$204 – $233
White filling, back tooth	$138 – $174	$161	12	$161 – $178
Silver filling, two surfaces	$124 – $173	$154	14	$154 – $174
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$108 – $150	$146	10	$146 – $156
Simple tooth extraction	$121 – $153	$135	12	$135 – $172
Silver filling, one surface	$104 – $132	$130	13	$130 – $137
White filling, front tooth	$116 – $153	$128	11	$128 – $153
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$109 – $139	$124	15	$124 – $148
Full-mouth X-ray series	$102 – $132	$122	15	$122 – $132
Adult teeth cleaning	$77 – $86	$86	13	$86 – $89
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$64 – $75	$74	10	$74 – $78
Emergency visit for dental pain	$66 – $120	$72	8	$72 – $120
Child teeth cleaning	$56 – $69	$68	15	$68 – $70
Four bitewing X-rays	$46 – $60	$50	12	$50 – $60
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$37 – $52	$48	12	$48 – $53
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$42 – $54	$44	10	$44 – $56
Fluoride varnish treatment	$37 – $45	$40	13	$40 – $45

Santa Barbara compared with California

Across the 40 treatments we can price in both Santa Barbara and California as a whole, 39 run above the state median and 1 below. The largest local saving is on Emergency visit for dental pain: $72 here against $77 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in Santa Barbara

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 $1,390. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $4,494.

Observed negotiated prices in Santa Barbara, 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	$4,149	$5,539	$1,390	9
Full braces, teenager	$3,957	$5,282	$1,325	9
Full lower denture	$1,111	$1,623	$512	14
Full upper denture	$1,132	$1,602	$470	14
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,200	$1,625	$425	12
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$1,140	$1,512	$372	13

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 Santa Barbara

These are federally funded health centres in Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
American Indian Health & Services	4141 State St	Website
County Health Clinic Franklin	1136 E Montecito St	(805) 568-2099 · Website
County Hlth Clinic-Santa Barbara	345 Camino del Circulo	(805) 681-5423 · Website
Eastside Family Dental Clinic	923 N Milpas St	(805) 884-1998 · Website
Eastside Neighborhood Clinic	915 N Milpas St	(844) 594-0343 · Website
Franklin Elementary School Health Care Center	1111 E Mason St	(805) 568-2099 · Website
Goleta Neighborhood Clinic	5580 Calle Real	(805) 617-7878 · Website
La Cumbre Junior High School	2255 Modoc Rd	(805) 617-7850 · Website
La Posada	4500 Hollister Ave	(805) 518-2719
Medical-Behavioral Health Mobile Unit	150 N Kellogg Ave	(805) 451-9665
Mobile Dental Van	923 N Milpas St	(805) 884-1998
SBNC Dental Mobile Unit 2	5580 Calle Real	(805) 698-1456

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 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 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 Santa Barbara practices are behind these figures?

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

Will a Santa Barbara dentist charge me these amounts?

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