Dental costs in Houston, TX: local dentist prices
Observed negotiated prices for 41 treatments from dental practices located in Houston.
Observed prices in Houston
| Treatment | Negotiated range Observed | Median | Spread | Practices (n) | Est. self-pay Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, teenager | $3,868 – $4,260 | $4,200 | 161 | $4,200 – $4,776 | |
| Full braces, adult | $4,057 – $4,550 | $4,200 | 161 | $4,200 – $5,160 | |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,292 – $1,566 | $1,428 | 225 | $1,428 – $1,950 | |
| Partial upper denture with metal frame | $907 – $1,119 | $1,055 | 217 | $1,055 – $1,224 | |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $883 – $1,125 | $1,054 | 218 | $1,054 – $1,222 | |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $845 – $1,110 | $1,006 | 225 | $1,006 – $1,268 | |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $831 – $1,073 | $960 | 222 | $960 – $1,200 | |
| Full upper denture | $806 – $1,045 | $940 | 216 | $940 – $1,158 | |
| Full lower denture | $810 – $1,028 | $911 | 212 | $911 – $1,110 | |
| All-ceramic crown | $756 – $918 | $848 | 228 | $848 – $987 | |
| Porcelain-and-metal crown | $702 – $850 | $788 | 223 | $788 – $921 | |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | $636 – $856 | $758 | 218 | $758 – $985 | |
| Root canal, molar | $684 – $848 | $746 | 228 | $746 – $957 | |
| Gum surgery (per quadrant) | $684 – $856 | $734 | 215 | $734 – $986 | |
| Bridge, porcelain-and-metal span unit | $666 – $800 | $725 | 236 | $725 – $874 | |
| Root canal, premolar | $550 – $678 | $626 | 233 | $626 – $765 | |
| Root canal, front tooth | $469 – $592 | $533 | 232 | $533 – $654 | |
| Bone graft at an implant site | $262 – $436 | $335 | 209 | $335 – $462 | |
| Fully-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $284 – $365 | $318 | 236 | $318 – $438 | |
| Hard night guard for grinding | $289 – $351 | $318 | 208 | $318 – $384 | |
| Partly-impacted wisdom tooth removal | $244 – $318 | $275 | 232 | $275 – $375 | |
| Surgical tooth extraction | $162 – $216 | $185 | 226 | $185 – $250 | |
| Core build-up under a crown | $140 – $194 | $173 | 231 | $173 – $216 | |
| Deep cleaning, four or more teeth per quadrant | $142 – $186 | $167 | 215 | $167 – $203 | |
| White filling, back tooth, two surfaces | $135 – $166 | $148 | 226 | $148 – $184 | |
| White filling, back tooth | $100 – $131 | $114 | 221 | $114 – $145 | |
| Silver filling, two surfaces | $100 – $122 | $108 | 222 | $108 – $133 | |
| Simple tooth extraction | $90 – $127 | $107 | 230 | $107 – $137 | |
| Deep cleaning, one to three teeth per quadrant | $89 – $127 | $106 | 220 | $106 – $146 | |
| White filling, front tooth | $96 – $116 | $102 | 218 | $102 – $135 | |
| Full-mouth X-ray series | $81 – $98 | $92 | 219 | $92 – $108 | |
| Ongoing gum maintenance cleaning | $82 – $103 | $92 | 231 | $92 – $116 | |
| Silver filling, one surface | $79 – $99 | $89 | 225 | $89 – $108 | |
| Adult teeth cleaning | $58 – $72 | $64 | 212 | $64 – $76 | |
| Emergency visit for dental pain | $60 – $77 | $62 | 233 | $62 – $85 | |
| Comprehensive exam (new patient) | $44 – $64 | $52 | 215 | $52 – $70 | |
| Child teeth cleaning | $44 – $54 | $47 | 225 | $47 – $59 | |
| Four bitewing X-rays | $39 – $49 | $43 | 222 | $43 – $52 | |
| Dental sealant (per tooth) | $33 – $41 | $36 | 232 | $36 – $45 | |
| Routine check-up (returning patient) | $30 – $38 | $32 | 218 | $32 – $46 | |
| Fluoride varnish treatment | $26 – $32 | $28 | 211 | $28 – $35 |
Houston compared with Texas
Across the 41 treatments we can price in both Houston and Texas as a whole, 9 run above the state median and 32 below. The largest local saving is on Routine check-up (returning patient): $32 here against $36 statewide.
See the Texas state page for the full statewide picture and every other published city.
What shopping around is worth in Houston
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 $493. Across the 6 treatments below it comes to $1,908.
| Treatment | Lower end (25th) | Upper end (75th) | Gap | Practices (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full braces, adult | $4,057 | $4,550 | $493 | 161 |
| Full braces, teenager | $3,868 | $4,260 | $392 | 161 |
| Implant post placed in the jaw | $1,292 | $1,566 | $274 | 225 |
| Ceramic crown attached to an implant | $845 | $1,110 | $265 | 225 |
| Ceramic crown on an implant abutment | $831 | $1,073 | $242 | 222 |
| Partial lower denture with metal frame | $883 | $1,125 | $242 | 218 |
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 Houston
These are federally funded health centres in Houston. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AVENUE 360 Southwest | 14095 Main St | (713) 426-0027 |
| Airline Women and Children's Health Center | 5808 Airline Dr | (713) 695-4013 · Website |
| Asian American Health Coalition of the Greater Houston Area | 7001 Corporate Dr, Suite 120 | (713) 773-0803 · Website |
| Avenue 360 Health and Wellness Midtown | 2920 Fannin St | (713) 426-0027 · Website |
| Avenue 360 Mobile Clinic #1 | 14095 Main St | (713) 426-0027 · Website |
| BBWC - Mobile Clinic | 8785 W Bellfort Ave | (713) 771-2292 · Website |
| Bee Busy Wellness Center | 8785 W Bellfort Ave | (713) 771-2292 |
| Bee Busy Wellness Center - Bay Area | 1300 Bay Area Blvd # 200 | (713) 771-2292 · Website |
| Bee Busy Wellness Center - Bissonnet | 10039 Bissonnet St | (713) 771-2292 |
| Bee Busy Wellness Center - North | 13201 Northwest Fwy, Suite 500 | (713) 771-2292 · Website |
| Caroline Street Clinic | 1934 Caroline St | (713) 286-6124 · Website |
| Cathedral Clinic | 1212 Prairie St | (713) 220-9730 · Website |
Texas has 776 such sites statewide — see the Texas page.
Other cities in Texas
Texas overview · All treatments · Methodology
Common questions
How many Houston practices are behind these figures?
Between 161 and 236 depending on the treatment, shown per row above. A Houston figure is published only when at least 8 separate practices in the city carried a negotiated rate for it.
Will a Houston dentist charge me these amounts?
Not if you are paying cash. These are rates negotiated between plans and contracted practices in Houston. Uninsured patients are normally quoted higher. Ask any practice for an itemised written quote — that is the only number that binds them.