Dental costs in Wilmington, NC: local dentist prices
Observed negotiated prices for 41 treatments from dental practices located in Wilmington.
Observed prices in Wilmington
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $4,546 – $4,835 | $4,660 | 10 | $4,660 – $5,187 | |
| Full braces, teenager | $4,335 – $4,486 | $4,444 | 9 | $4,444 – $4,693 | |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,426 – $1,678 | $1,604 | 11 | $1,604 – $1,952 | |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $1,005 – $1,160 | $1,112 | 11 | $1,112 – $1,182 | |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $950 – $1,157 | $1,075 | 11 | $1,075 – $1,304 | |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $954 – $1,161 | $1,071 | 11 | $1,071 – $1,280 | |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $936 – $1,064 | $989 | 10 | $989 – $1,174 | |
| Full upper denture | $840 – $1,040 | $923 | 11 | $923 – $1,212 | |
| Full lower denture | $822 – $1,020 | $892 | 10 | $892 – $1,173 | |
| All-ceramic crown | $879 – $912 | $889 | 12 | $889 – $948 | |
| Porcelain-and-metal crown | $810 – $890 | $843 | 11 | $843 – $917 | |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $721 – $954 | $839 | 10 | $839 – $994 | |
| Root canal, molar | $793 – $886 | $838 | 12 | $838 – $901 | |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $784 – $858 | $810 | 12 | $810 – $925 | |
| Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit | $637 – $801 | $748 | 9 | $748 – $842 | |
| Root canal, premolar | $639 – $679 | $651 | 12 | $651 – $706 | |
| Root canal, front tooth | $567 – $591 | $582 | 9 | $582 – $630 | |
| Hard night guard for grinding | $302 – $368 | $334 | 12 | $334 – $376 | |
| Bone graft at an implant site | $310 – $345 | $320 | 9 | $320 – $359 | |
| Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $287 – $357 | $312 | 11 | $312 – $407 | |
| Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $247 – $321 | $288 | 13 | $288 – $330 | |
| Surgical tooth extraction | $208 – $216 | $212 | 11 | $212 – $223 | |
| Core build-up under a crown | $186 – $199 | $190 | 11 | $190 – $214 | |
| Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant | $184 – $202 | $190 | 12 | $190 – $205 | |
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $159 – $177 | $168 | 9 | $168 – $181 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $122 – $139 | $131 | 10 | $131 – $145 | |
| Simple tooth extraction | $123 – $129 | $123 | 11 | $123 – $134 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $108 – $127 | $119 | 12 | $119 – $134 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $97 – $119 | $118 | 9 | $118 – $136 | |
| Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant | $107 – $123 | $114 | 12 | $114 – $135 | |
| Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning | $107 – $114 | $108 | 9 | $108 – $124 | |
| Full-mouth X-ray series | $102 – $112 | $106 | 12 | $106 – $112 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $78 – $103 | $96 | 10 | $96 – $111 | |
| Emergency visit for dental pain | $64 – $83 | $81 | 10 | $81 – $98 | |
| Adult teeth cleaning | $73 – $79 | $74 | 11 | $74 – $88 | |
| Comprehensive exam (new patient) | $58 – $65 | $60 | 10 | $60 – $65 | |
| Child teeth cleaning | $48 – $53 | $51 | 10 | $51 – $59 | |
| Four bitewing X-rays | $46 – $51 | $50 | 10 | $50 – $52 | |
| Routine check-up (returning patient) | $38 – $41 | $40 | 9 | $40 – $42 | |
| Dental sealant (per tooth) | $38 – $42 | $40 | 11 | $40 – $45 | |
| Fluoride varnish treatment | $32 – $36 | $32 | 10 | $32 – $38 |
Wilmington compared with North Carolina
Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Wilmington and North Carolina as a whole, 24 run above the state median and 17 below. The largest local saving is on Full lower denture: $892 here against $992 statewide.
See the North Carolina state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.
What shopping around is worth in Wilmington
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 $289. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $1,388.
| Treatment | Lower end (25th) | Upper end (75th) | Gap | Practices (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $4,546 | $4,835 | $289 | 10 |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,426 | $1,678 | $252 | 11 |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $721 | $954 | $233 | 10 |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $954 | $1,161 | $207 | 11 |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $950 | $1,157 | $207 | 11 |
| Full upper denture | $840 | $1,040 | $200 | 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 Wilmington
These are federally funded health centres in Wilmington. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Goshen Medical Center - Wilmington | 1444 S 17th St | (910) 793-4311 |
| MedNorth Health Center | 917 N 4th St | (910) 343-0270 · Website |
| MedNorth Health Center at Calhoun Drive | 240 Calhoun Dr | — |
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 Wilmington practices are behind these figures?
Between 9 and 13 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Wilmington figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.
Will a Wilmington dentist charge me these amounts?
Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Wilmington. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.