Dental costs in Durham, NC: local dentist prices

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

Treatments priced

in this city

Largest sample

practices

State

North Carolina

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 Durham

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	$4,460 – $5,219	$4,847	23	$4,847 – $6,039
Full braces, teenager	$4,155 – $5,010	$4,554	24	$4,554 – $6,009
Implant post placed in the jaw	$1,568 – $1,829	$1,677	31	$1,677 – $1,948
Ceramic crown attached to an implant	$1,013 – $1,331	$1,146	25	$1,146 – $1,470
Partial upper denture with metal frame	$1,021 – $1,328	$1,103	25	$1,103 – $1,486
Ceramic crown on an implant abutment	$986 – $1,199	$1,082	26	$1,082 – $1,325
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$985 – $1,350	$1,050	25	$1,050 – $1,467
Full lower denture	$883 – $1,209	$1,007	24	$1,007 – $1,342
Full upper denture	$888 – $1,293	$950	25	$950 – $1,361
All-ceramic crown	$773 – $1,036	$936	29	$936 – $1,099
Porcelain-and-metal crown	$793 – $982	$890	29	$890 – $1,046
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)	$683 – $930	$877	29	$877 – $1,073
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$736 – $1,108	$841	23	$841 – $1,194
Root canal, molar	$763 – $869	$831	24	$831 – $964
Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit	$672 – $919	$774	26	$774 – $1,025
Root canal, premolar	$625 – $766	$686	28	$686 – $898
Root canal, front tooth	$546 – $653	$600	26	$600 – $762
Hard night guard for grinding	$318 – $400	$358	28	$358 – $446
Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$314 – $409	$333	27	$333 – $463
Bone graft at an implant site	$254 – $416	$308	26	$308 – $506
Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal	$276 – $344	$301	27	$301 – $399
Surgical tooth extraction	$205 – $240	$220	24	$220 – $277
Core build-up under a crown	$141 – $218	$200	26	$200 – $256
Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant	$176 – $223	$200	26	$200 – $233
White filling, back tooth, two surfaces	$141 – $192	$164	27	$164 – $214
White filling, back tooth	$112 – $145	$133	29	$133 – $166
Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant	$94 – $151	$126	27	$126 – $166
Simple tooth extraction	$108 – $134	$125	28	$125 – $156
White filling, front tooth	$103 – $137	$124	31	$124 – $153
Silver filling, two surfaces	$104 – $146	$118	27	$118 – $167
Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning	$90 – $122	$112	29	$112 – $133
Full-mouth X-ray series	$101 – $119	$108	27	$108 – $130
Silver filling, one surface	$83 – $109	$94	27	$94 – $130
Emergency visit for dental pain	$56 – $98	$78	29	$78 – $101
Adult teeth cleaning	$64 – $76	$72	27	$72 – $84
Comprehensive exam (new patient)	$60 – $71	$64	27	$64 – $76
Child teeth cleaning	$49 – $60	$51	28	$51 – $62
Four bitewing X-rays	$47 – $54	$50	30	$50 – $57
Routine check-up (returning patient)	$34 – $42	$40	26	$40 – $48
Dental sealant (per tooth)	$36 – $43	$40	26	$40 – $48
Fluoride varnish treatment	$28 – $37	$32	26	$32 – $41

Durham compared with North Carolina

Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Durham and North Carolina as a whole, 32 run above the state median and 9 below. The largest local saving is on Full upper denture: $950 here against $998 statewide.

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

What shopping around is worth in Durham

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, teenager alone, the difference between a practice at the 25th percentile and one at the 75th is $855. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $3,082.

Observed negotiated prices in Durham, NC. 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, teenager	$4,155	$5,010	$855	24
Full braces, adult	$4,460	$5,219	$759	23
Full upper denture	$888	$1,293	$405	25
Gum surgery (per quadrant)	$736	$1,108	$372	23
Partial lower denture with metal frame	$985	$1,350	$365	25
Full lower denture	$883	$1,209	$326	24

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 Durham

These are federally funded health centres in Durham. 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 Durham. Source: HRSA.
Health centre	Address	Contact
BDIHS Admin	249 E NC Highway 54, Suite 320	(909) 907-3334 · Website
BDIHS Durham	249 E NC Highway 54, Unit 310	(919) 907-3334
Health Care For The Homeless	412 Liberty St	(919) 808-5640 · Website
Holton Wellness Center	401 N Driver St	(919) 530-8210 · Website
John H. Lucas Sr Wellness Center	3727 Fayetteville St	(919) 956-4519 · Website
Lakewood	2020 Chapel Hill Rd, Suite 28	(919) 813-4471 · Website
Lincoln CHC -Durham County Human Services	414 E Main St	(919) 560-7726 · Website
Lincoln Community Health Center, Inc.	1301 Fayetteville St	(919) 956-4000 · Website
Lyon Park Clinic	1313 Halley St	(919) 536-4205 · Website
Walltown Clinic	815 Broad St	(919) 416-1254 · Website

North Carolina has 778 such sites statewide — see the North Carolina page.

Other cities in North Carolina

North Carolina overview · All treatments · Methodology

Common questions

How many Durham practices are behind these figures?

Between 23 and 31 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Durham figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.

Will a Durham dentist charge me these amounts?

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