Dental costs in St Louis, MO: local dentist prices

Observed negotiated prices for 29 treatments from dental practices located in St Louis.

Treatments priced

in this city

Largest sample

practices

State

Missouri

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 St Louis

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
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,291 – $1,928	$1,532	9	$1,532 – $1,952
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$840 – $1,394	$975	10	$975 – $1,559
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$641 – $945	$876	9	$876 – $967
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$828 – $1,214	$828	9	$828 – $1,408
All-ceramic crown	$677 – $952	$774	8	$774 – $1,063
Full upper denture	$750 – $1,137	$750	9	$750 – $1,393
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$684 – $1,006	$744	10	$744 – $1,194
Root canal, molar	$684 – $880	$731	8	$731 – $1,013
Full lower denture	$706 – $1,041	$715	8	$715 – $1,173
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$590 – $856	$700	8	$700 – $976
Root canal, premolar	$515 – $812	$619	9	$619 – $824
Root canal, front tooth	$444 – $694	$541	9	$541 – $700
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$277 – $375	$277	9	$277 – $427
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$233 – $316	$233	9	$233 – $354
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$125 – $179	$139	10	$139 – $194
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$132 – $208	$132	9	$132 – $240
Core build-up under a crown	$125 – $214	$125	9	$125 – $242
White filling, front tooth	$91 – $129	$98	8	$98 – $139
White filling, back tooth	$97 – $121	$97	9	$97 – $144
Full-mouth X-ray series	$75 – $113	$90	9	$90 – $122
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$89 – $118	$89	9	$89 – $169
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$80 – $94	$82	8	$82 – $110
Emergency visit for dental pain	$62 – $90	$68	10	$68 – $97
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$44 – $71	$57	9	$57 – $74
Adult teeth cleaning	$57 – $75	$57	9	$57 – $79
Four bitewing X-rays	$37 – $54	$49	10	$49 – $56
Child teeth cleaning	$44 – $50	$44	9	$44 – $60
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$31 – $42	$36	9	$36 – $45
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$33 – $44	$34	10	$34 – $49

St Louis compared with Missouri

Across the 29 treatments we can price in both St Louis and Missouri as a whole, 7 run above the state median and 22 below. The largest local saving is on Core build-up under a crown: $125 here against $164 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in St Louis

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 Implant post placed in the jaw alone, the difference between a practice at the 25th percentile and one at the 75th is $637. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $2,621.

Observed negotiated prices in St Louis, MO. 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)
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,291	$1,928	$637	9
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$840	$1,394	$554	10
Full upper denture	$750	$1,137	$387	9
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$828	$1,214	$386	9
Full lower denture	$706	$1,041	$335	8
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$684	$1,006	$322	10

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.

Other cities in Missouri

Kansas City Independence Saint Louis Springfield Chesterfield O Fallon Saint Joseph Sedalia Columbia Lees Summit Blue Springs Raytown Saint Peters Wentzville Joplin

Missouri overview · All treatments · Methodology

Common questions

How many St Louis practices are behind these figures?

Between 8 and 10 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A St Louis figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a St Louis dentist charge me these amounts?

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