Dental costs in Columbia, SC: local dentist prices
Observed negotiated prices for 41 treatments from dental practices located in Columbia.
Observed prices in Columbia
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,753 – $4,782 | $4,372 | 16 | $4,372 – $5,188 | |
| Full braces, teenager | $3,711 – $4,663 | $4,232 | 16 | $4,232 – $4,944 | |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,291 – $1,608 | $1,465 | 17 | $1,465 – $1,904 | |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $845 – $1,186 | $1,068 | 22 | $1,068 – $1,515 | |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $852 – $1,174 | $1,059 | 23 | $1,059 – $1,512 | |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $824 – $1,099 | $950 | 16 | $950 – $1,231 | |
| Full upper denture | $743 – $1,047 | $920 | 24 | $920 – $1,381 | |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $764 – $1,005 | $919 | 15 | $919 – $1,097 | |
| Full lower denture | $718 – $1,040 | $882 | 23 | $882 – $1,381 | |
| Root canal, molar | $710 – $850 | $814 | 20 | $814 – $915 | |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $678 – $958 | $780 | 22 | $780 – $1,088 | |
| All-ceramic crown | $640 – $828 | $770 | 21 | $770 – $917 | |
| Porcelain-and-metal crown | $692 – $868 | $763 | 20 | $763 – $911 | |
| Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit | $616 – $825 | $753 | 22 | $753 – $957 | |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $599 – $807 | $736 | 14 | $736 – $956 | |
| Root canal, premolar | $566 – $683 | $638 | 21 | $638 – $770 | |
| Root canal, front tooth | $468 – $562 | $524 | 20 | $524 – $642 | |
| Bone graft at an implant site | $255 – $375 | $349 | 15 | $349 – $408 | |
| Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $267 – $381 | $334 | 22 | $334 – $473 | |
| Hard night guard for grinding | $273 – $424 | $310 | 14 | $310 – $442 | |
| Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $231 – $332 | $290 | 23 | $290 – $381 | |
| Surgical tooth extraction | $143 – $217 | $190 | 21 | $190 – $260 | |
| Core build-up under a crown | $138 – $201 | $176 | 22 | $176 – $228 | |
| Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant | $136 – $220 | $175 | 23 | $175 – $239 | |
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $125 – $173 | $146 | 21 | $146 – $215 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $97 – $134 | $114 | 21 | $114 – $137 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $101 – $120 | $112 | 22 | $112 – $134 | |
| Simple tooth extraction | $100 – $125 | $112 | 21 | $112 – $132 | |
| Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant | $94 – $135 | $111 | 22 | $111 – $158 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $93 – $116 | $106 | 21 | $106 – $126 | |
| Full-mouth X-ray series | $87 – $108 | $95 | 20 | $95 – $119 | |
| Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning | $78 – $100 | $94 | 21 | $94 – $116 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $82 – $96 | $88 | 21 | $88 – $102 | |
| Emergency visit for dental pain | $55 – $82 | $66 | 22 | $66 – $92 | |
| Adult teeth cleaning | $53 – $68 | $62 | 21 | $62 – $76 | |
| Comprehensive exam (new patient) | $48 – $63 | $56 | 22 | $56 – $70 | |
| Child teeth cleaning | $42 – $52 | $48 | 23 | $48 – $55 | |
| Four bitewing X-rays | $38 – $50 | $46 | 22 | $46 – $53 | |
| Dental sealant (per tooth) | $34 – $41 | $38 | 22 | $38 – $47 | |
| Routine check-up (returning patient) | $31 – $41 | $35 | 23 | $35 – $48 | |
| Fluoride varnish treatment | $28 – $34 | $32 | 16 | $32 – $39 |
Columbia compared with South Carolina
Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Columbia and South Carolina as a whole, 17 run above the state median and 24 below. The largest local saving is on Adult teeth cleaning: $62 here against $66 statewide.
See the South Carolina state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.
What shopping around is worth in Columbia
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 $1,029. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $3,283.
| Treatment | Lower end (25th) | Upper end (75th) | Gap | Practices (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $3,753 | $4,782 | $1,029 | 16 |
| Full braces, teenager | $3,711 | $4,663 | $952 | 16 |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $845 | $1,186 | $341 | 22 |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $852 | $1,174 | $322 | 23 |
| Full lower denture | $718 | $1,040 | $322 | 23 |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,291 | $1,608 | $317 | 17 |
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 Columbia
These are federally funded health centres in Columbia. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire Behavioral Medicine | 4605 Monticello Rd, Suite 1 | (803) 252-0266 |
| Eau Claire Family Dentistry at Monticello Road | 4605 Monticello Rd | (803) 733-5969 · Website |
| Eau Claire Internal Medicine | 4605 Monticello Rd | (803) 754-0151 · Website |
| Eau Claire Podiatry | 3800 N Main St STE B | (803) 799-8407 |
| Five Points Pediatrics | 1228 Harden St STE B | (803) 748-7002 · Website |
| Five Points Pediatrics Behavioral Health @ Hand Middle School | 2600 Wheat St | (803) 748-7002 |
| Five Points Walk-in Center | 1228 Harden St STE A | (803) 722-1565 |
| Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center | 4605 Monticello Rd, Suite 1 | (803) 252-7001 |
| Transitions Center | 2025 Main St | (803) 260-7593 |
| Waverly Family Practice | 1228 Harden St | (803) 748-1181 |
| Waverly Women's Health | 2117 Gervais St | (803) 744-0540 |
South Carolina has 312 such sites statewide — see the South Carolina page.
Other cities in South Carolina
South Carolina overview · All treatments · Methodology
Common questions
How many Columbia practices are behind these figures?
Between 14 and 24 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Columbia figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.
Will a Columbia dentist charge me these amounts?
Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Columbia. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.