Every Dental Procedure Cost Without Insurance (2025 Prices)

Over 70 million Americans lack dental insurance. If you're one of them, knowing actual costs helps you budget, negotiate, and find affordable care. Here's what every common procedure costs without insurance in 2025.

Preventive care: routine cleaning ($100-$200), deep cleaning/scaling ($200-$400 per quadrant), dental exam ($75-$200), full mouth X-rays ($100-$250), panoramic X-ray ($100-$200). Most dentists offer discount packages combining exam, X-rays, and cleaning for $150-$300.

Fillings: composite (tooth-colored) fillings cost $150-$400 per tooth depending on size. Amalgam (silver) fillings are cheaper at $100-$250 but are less aesthetic. Most dentists now default to composite.

Crowns cost $800-$1,700 per tooth. Porcelain and zirconia crowns are most common. Some dental offices have CEREC machines that create same-day crowns, saving you a second visit but typically costing the same.

Root canals: front teeth $700-$1,000, premolars $800-$1,200, molars $1,000-$1,500. You'll also need a crown afterward ($800-$1,700), making the total cost for saving a tooth $1,500-$3,200.

Extractions: simple extraction $150-$350, surgical extraction $200-$550, wisdom teeth removal $200-$700 per tooth ($800-$2,800 for all four). Sedation adds $200-$600 to wisdom teeth procedures.

Dental implants are the most expensive routine dental procedure: $3,000-$5,000 per implant (includes implant, abutment, and crown). Full mouth implant solutions range from $15,000 to $50,000+.

Braces and orthodontics: traditional metal braces $3,000-$7,000, ceramic braces $4,000-$8,000, Invisalign $3,500-$8,000. Treatment duration is typically 12-24 months. Many orthodontists offer in-house payment plans.

Dentures: basic complete set $600-$1,500, mid-range $1,500-$3,000, premium $3,000-$8,000. Partial dentures run $700-$2,500. Implant-supported dentures (snap-in) cost $6,000-$15,000.

Money-saving strategies: dental schools offer 50-70% discounts (supervised by faculty), dental discount plans ($100-$200/year for 15-50% off), community health centers offer sliding-scale fees, and many dentists offer 5-15% cash-pay discounts.

Consider dental tourism for major work. Mexico and Costa Rica offer quality dental care at 50-70% less than US prices. A dental implant that costs $4,000 in the US may cost $1,200-$1,800 in Mexico.

Preventive care is the best investment. A $200 cleaning and exam twice a year prevents $5,000+ cavities, root canals, and extractions. Skipping cleanings to save money almost always costs more in the long run.