Dental costs in Santa Monica, CA: local dentist prices

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

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 Monica

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, teenager	$4,354 – $4,705	$4,599	18	$4,599 – $5,189
Full braces, adult	$4,384 – $5,133	$4,592	18	$4,592 – $5,392
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,497 – $1,683	$1,583	20	$1,583 – $1,915
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,043 – $1,238	$1,173	18	$1,173 – $1,348
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$1,057 – $1,242	$1,152	18	$1,152 – $1,343
Full upper denture	$952 – $1,182	$1,064	19	$1,064 – $1,259
Full lower denture	$964 – $1,172	$1,036	18	$1,036 – $1,250
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$914 – $1,114	$1,011	16	$1,011 – $1,190
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$875 – $1,114	$986	17	$986 – $1,277
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$722 – $963	$918	19	$918 – $1,057
All-ceramic crown	$786 – $987	$874	20	$874 – $1,041
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$747 – $873	$827	19	$827 – $924
Root canal, molar	$764 – $958	$798	17	$798 – $1,013
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$702 – $819	$791	20	$791 – $876
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$693 – $888	$730	17	$730 – $985
Root canal, premolar	$556 – $761	$641	19	$641 – $792
Root canal, front tooth	$483 – $662	$556	16	$556 – $698
Hard night guard for grinding	$346 – $416	$388	19	$388 – $449
Bone graft at an implant site	$232 – $419	$349	17	$349 – $492
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$297 – $399	$347	18	$347 – $418
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$280 – $332	$307	18	$307 – $351
Surgical tooth extraction	$179 – $219	$211	18	$211 – $244
Core build-up under a crown	$166 – $208	$191	20	$191 – $218
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$164 – $199	$171	20	$171 – $215
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$139 – $183	$167	18	$167 – $197
White filling, back tooth	$104 – $141	$130	19	$130 – $159
Silver filling, two surfaces	$102 – $127	$121	19	$121 – $144
Simple tooth extraction	$100 – $136	$119	19	$119 – $147
White filling, front tooth	$93 – $128	$110	20	$110 – $145
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$90 – $120	$101	21	$101 – $131
Silver filling, one surface	$85 – $103	$96	20	$96 – $119
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$83 – $117	$94	22	$94 – $154
Full-mouth X-ray series	$81 – $106	$90	21	$90 – $116
Emergency visit for dental pain	$65 – $88	$72	19	$72 – $102
Adult teeth cleaning	$60 – $77	$70	19	$70 – $83
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$50 – $67	$62	19	$62 – $75
Child teeth cleaning	$46 – $56	$52	21	$52 – $66
Four bitewing X-rays	$38 – $50	$42	20	$42 – $56
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$31 – $46	$39	20	$39 – $47
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$35 – $43	$38	21	$38 – $47
Fluoride varnish treatment	$27 – $36	$29	19	$29 – $40

Santa Monica compared with California

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Santa Monica and California as a whole, 22 run above the state median and 19 below. The largest local saving is on Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant: $94 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 Santa Monica

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 $749. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $2,018.

Observed negotiated prices in Santa Monica, 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	$4,384	$5,133	$749	18
Full braces, teenager	$4,354	$4,705	$351	18
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$722	$963	$241	19
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$875	$1,114	$239	17
Full upper denture	$952	$1,182	$230	19
Full lower denture	$964	$1,172	$208	18

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 Monica

These are federally funded health centres in Santa Monica. 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 Monica. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
Santa Monica College	1900 Pico Blvd	(310) 450-2191 · Website
Venice Family Clinic - Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center	2509 Pico Blvd	(310) 664-7801 · Website
Venice Family Clinic Annenberg Access Center - The People's Concern	503 Olympic Blvd	(310) 392-8636
Venice Family Clinic at Santa Monica High School	601 Pico Blvd	(310) 392-8630
Venice Family Clinic at The People Concern Annenberg Access Center	503 Olympic Blvd	(310) 392-8636 · 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 San Mateo Glendale San Francisco Huntington Beach San Jose Aliso Viejo Riverside Irvine Anaheim Fresno Elk Grove Roseville Oxnard Sacramento 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 Santa Monica practices are behind these figures?

Between 16 and 22 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Santa Monica figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a Santa Monica dentist charge me these amounts?

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