Dental costs in Iowa City, IA: local dentist prices
Observed negotiated prices for 40 treatments from dental practices located in Iowa City.
Observed prices in Iowa City
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,633 – $5,401 | $4,488 | 8 | $4,488 – $5,401 | |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,120 – $1,426 | $1,120 | 25 | $1,120 – $1,856 | |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $960 – $1,172 | $960 | 25 | $960 – $1,381 | |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $624 – $1,154 | $861 | 12 | $861 – $1,174 | |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $624 – $1,155 | $861 | 12 | $861 – $1,178 | |
| Full upper denture | $638 – $1,076 | $806 | 11 | $806 – $1,338 | |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $448 – $899 | $793 | 12 | $793 – $1,089 | |
| Full lower denture | $634 – $1,053 | $789 | 11 | $789 – $1,338 | |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $680 – $884 | $680 | 25 | $680 – $1,307 | |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $507 – $783 | $653 | 9 | $653 – $830 | |
| Root canal, molar | $569 – $794 | $639 | 17 | $639 – $851 | |
| Root canal, premolar | $462 – $680 | $500 | 17 | $500 – $729 | |
| Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit | $450 – $630 | $455 | 21 | $455 – $780 | |
| Porcelain-and-metal crown | $375 – $582 | $450 | 26 | $450 – $806 | |
| All-ceramic crown | $375 – $603 | $444 | 24 | $444 – $852 | |
| Root canal, front tooth | $350 – $597 | $434 | 16 | $434 – $649 | |
| Hard night guard for grinding | $226 – $386 | $349 | 11 | $349 – $386 | |
| Bone graft at an implant site | $240 – $300 | $240 | 26 | $240 – $428 | |
| Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $114 – $239 | $169 | 26 | $169 – $340 | |
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $91 – $163 | $130 | 12 | $130 – $180 | |
| Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $88 – $198 | $122 | 26 | $122 – $287 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $67 – $124 | $106 | 12 | $106 – $128 | |
| Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant | $80 – $168 | $105 | 16 | $105 – $212 | |
| Full-mouth X-ray series | $66 – $105 | $93 | 14 | $93 – $120 | |
| Surgical tooth extraction | $81 – $159 | $89 | 26 | $89 – $188 | |
| Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant | $53 – $133 | $80 | 16 | $80 – $149 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $53 – $107 | $76 | 16 | $76 – $123 | |
| Core build-up under a crown | $44 – $130 | $67 | 23 | $67 – $188 | |
| Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning | $30 – $93 | $63 | 26 | $63 – $116 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $33 – $94 | $60 | 26 | $60 – $125 | |
| Simple tooth extraction | $35 – $89 | $53 | 26 | $53 – $112 | |
| Emergency visit for dental pain | $25 – $64 | $52 | 25 | $52 – $104 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $46 – $91 | $51 | 18 | $51 – $104 | |
| Comprehensive exam (new patient) | $32 – $64 | $50 | 14 | $50 – $69 | |
| Four bitewing X-rays | $30 – $51 | $45 | 12 | $45 – $56 | |
| Adult teeth cleaning | $23 – $59 | $43 | 26 | $43 – $80 | |
| Child teeth cleaning | $29 – $42 | $30 | 26 | $30 – $52 | |
| Routine check-up (returning patient) | $26 – $39 | $28 | 18 | $28 – $44 | |
| Dental sealant (per tooth) | $24 – $31 | $26 | 25 | $26 – $40 | |
| Fluoride varnish treatment | $18 – $28 | $25 | 26 | $25 – $34 |
Iowa City compared with Iowa
Across the 40 treatments we can price in both Iowa City and Iowa as a whole, 5 run above the state median and 35 below. The largest local saving is on Core build-up under a crown: $67 here against $159 statewide.
See the Iowa state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.
What shopping around is worth in Iowa City
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 $1,768. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $4,137.
| Treatment | Lower end (25th) | Upper end (75th) | Gap | Practices (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,633 | $5,401 | $1,768 | 8 |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $624 | $1,155 | $531 | 12 |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $624 | $1,154 | $530 | 12 |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $448 | $899 | $451 | 12 |
| Full upper denture | $638 | $1,076 | $438 | 11 |
| Full lower denture | $634 | $1,053 | $419 | 11 |
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 Iowa City
These are federally funded health centres in Iowa City. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Proteus, Inc. - Iowa City Site | 1548 S Gilbert St | (563) 264-0880 |
Iowa has 119 such sites statewide — see the Iowa page.
Other cities in Iowa
Iowa overview · All treatments · Methodology
Common questions
How many Iowa City practices are behind these figures?
Between 8 and 26 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Iowa City figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.
Will a Iowa City dentist charge me these amounts?
Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Iowa City. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.