Dental costs in Washington, DC: local dentist prices
Observed negotiated prices for 41 treatments from dental practices located in Washington.
Observed prices in Washington
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,198 – $4,719 | $4,032 | 93 | $4,032 – $5,210 | |
| Full braces, teenager | $3,186 – $4,583 | $3,822 | 92 | $3,822 – $5,041 | |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,317 – $1,844 | $1,488 | 112 | $1,488 – $2,094 | |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $852 – $1,236 | $971 | 106 | $971 – $1,506 | |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $548 – $1,152 | $923 | 112 | $923 – $1,287 | |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $540 – $1,144 | $919 | 114 | $919 – $1,281 | |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $797 – $1,072 | $902 | 116 | $902 – $1,381 | |
| Full upper denture | $450 – $1,038 | $811 | 121 | $811 – $1,166 | |
| Full lower denture | $450 – $1,040 | $795 | 121 | $795 – $1,200 | |
| Root canal, molar | $502 – $839 | $690 | 126 | $690 – $966 | |
| All-ceramic crown | $440 – $868 | $688 | 120 | $688 – $961 | |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $415 – $814 | $686 | 116 | $686 – $938 | |
| Porcelain-and-metal crown | $440 – $816 | $683 | 115 | $683 – $976 | |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $543 – $829 | $642 | 110 | $642 – $1,013 | |
| Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit | $415 – $764 | $605 | 122 | $605 – $890 | |
| Root canal, premolar | $411 – $685 | $560 | 122 | $560 – $782 | |
| Root canal, front tooth | $336 – $575 | $477 | 114 | $477 – $665 | |
| Hard night guard for grinding | $256 – $350 | $300 | 101 | $300 – $394 | |
| Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $238 – $348 | $282 | 117 | $282 – $391 | |
| Bone graft at an implant site | $223 – $349 | $265 | 75 | $265 – $456 | |
| Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $94 – $308 | $252 | 112 | $252 – $352 | |
| Surgical tooth extraction | $120 – $210 | $180 | 94 | $180 – $238 | |
| Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant | $78 – $192 | $151 | 103 | $151 – $214 | |
| Core build-up under a crown | $85 – $184 | $148 | 109 | $148 – $206 | |
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $85 – $163 | $128 | 112 | $128 – $181 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $47 – $122 | $97 | 106 | $97 – $135 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $65 – $124 | $97 | 121 | $97 – $143 | |
| Full-mouth X-ray series | $80 – $103 | $91 | 83 | $91 – $115 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $45 – $112 | $90 | 113 | $90 – $127 | |
| Simple tooth extraction | $65 – $120 | $89 | 118 | $89 – $134 | |
| Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning | $57 – $105 | $80 | 116 | $80 – $118 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $38 – $99 | $79 | 109 | $79 – $111 | |
| Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant | $48 – $110 | $78 | 123 | $78 – $137 | |
| Emergency visit for dental pain | $40 – $72 | $62 | 103 | $62 – $91 | |
| Adult teeth cleaning | $43 – $67 | $58 | 117 | $58 – $74 | |
| Comprehensive exam (new patient) | $44 – $64 | $53 | 100 | $53 – $70 | |
| Child teeth cleaning | $34 – $50 | $44 | 111 | $44 – $57 | |
| Four bitewing X-rays | $37 – $48 | $43 | 93 | $43 – $52 | |
| Routine check-up (returning patient) | $29 – $38 | $33 | 91 | $33 – $42 | |
| Dental sealant (per tooth) | $24 – $39 | $33 | 104 | $33 – $45 | |
| Fluoride varnish treatment | $24 – $33 | $28 | 92 | $28 – $39 |
Washington compared with District of Columbia
Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Washington and District of Columbia as a whole, 2 run above the state median and 39 below. The largest local saving is on Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant: $78 here against $84 statewide.
See the District of Columbia state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.
What shopping around is worth in Washington
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 $1,521. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $5,304.
| Treatment | Lower end (25th) | Upper end (75th) | Gap | Practices (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,198 | $4,719 | $1,521 | 93 |
| Full braces, teenager | $3,186 | $4,583 | $1,397 | 92 |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $548 | $1,152 | $604 | 112 |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $540 | $1,144 | $604 | 114 |
| Full lower denture | $450 | $1,040 | $590 | 121 |
| Full upper denture | $450 | $1,038 | $588 | 121 |
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 Washington
These are federally funded health centres in Washington. 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.
| Health centre | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 801 East Shelter Clinic | 2722 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE | (202) 893-6179 |
| 801 East Shelter-Medical Respite | 2722 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE | (202) 893-6179 |
| Anacostia Health Center | 1500 Galen St SE | (202) 610-7160 · Website |
| Bancroft Elementary School (SBMH) | 1755 Newton St NW | (202) 673-7280 |
| Barnard Elementary School (SBMH) | 430 Decatur St NW | (202) 576-1100 |
| Bread for the City's Northwest Center | 1525 7th St NW | (202) 386-7020 · Website |
| Brentwood Health Center | 1251 Saratoga Ave NE | (202) 469-4699 · Website |
| Bruce-Monroe Elementary School @ Parkview (SBMH) | 3560 Warder St NW | (202) 576-6222 |
| CCNV Shelter | 425 2nd St NW | (202) 508-0500 · Website |
| Capital City Public Charter School (SBMH) | 100 Peabody St NW | (202) 808-9800 |
| Cardozo Student Health Center | 1200 Clifton St NW | (202) 469-4699 · Website |
| Central Detention Facility | 1901 D St SE | (202) 698-0400 · Website |
District of Columbia has 78 such sites statewide — see the District of Columbia page.
Other cities in District of Columbia
No other city in this state is published yet.
District of Columbia overview · All treatments · Methodology
Common questions
How many Washington practices are behind these figures?
Between 75 and 126 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Washington figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.
Will a Washington dentist charge me these amounts?
Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Washington. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.