A. How Much Does It Cost To Go To The Dentist Without Insurance?
According to the American Dental Association, cost is the number one reason people don’t go to the dentist. And contrary to popular belief, the cost of an uninsured dentist isn’t much different than your annual insurance bill. Before we look at these numbers, it’s important to remember that modern dentistry has made significant advances in improving the treatment and prevention of dental disease.
These improvements continue to cause the cost of dental care to increase each year. These rising costs make it a challenge for those without dental insurance to see a dentist regularly to maintain optimal oral health. However, this does not mean that all hope is lost. There are many ways to get dental treatment without having that dental insurance card.
1. How to get dental treatment without insurance
Approximately 74 million Americans do not have dental insurance and must pay for their dental expenses out of pocket. And since most people think that the cost of an uninsured dentist is prohibitive, many people choose not to make their biannual visits to the dentist. Unfortunately, this can lead to more expensive treatments in the future. Fortunately, there are several options for those who don’t have dental insurance!
a. Faculties of Dentistry
By living close to an accredited dental school, you can find quality treatment at a lower cost than private dental practices. These schools have clinics where dental students work under the supervision of licensed dentists. Typically, the experienced dentist reviews all stages of the student’s work to ensure quality treatment. Here’s the catch: you probably need to see these dental interns more often. It also means more time is spent in the chair at each visit.
b. Local Health Departments
Some local health departments offer free or low-cost dental services.
c. Ask about payment options
Suppose you don’t have dental insurance and you don’t have access to other resources. In this case, you should find a dentist that offers various payment options for their services. A popular payment method accepted by many dentists. Dentists offer interest-free financing options for 6 to 24 months with fees over $200. You can also take advantage of long-term financing at reduced interest rates for more expensive dentist fees.
2. How much does a visit to the dentist cost without insurance?
The cost of an uninsured dental visit depends on the service you need. A routine cleaning can cost $75 to $200, with an average cost of $127. If this appointment includes dental X-rays, the price can be $300 or more. If you need a more thorough cleaning (known as a deep clean), expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $4,000 for your entire mouth. Even with dental insurance, you are likely to pay several hundred dollars for this procedure. This underscores the importance of preventing rather than treating gum disease.
Sometimes the cost of an uninsured dentist is cheaper than the monthly insurance premiums. This is especially true if you only need basic services like exams and cleanings every year. Even if you have insurance, you can end up buying insurance from a limited network of providers. This makes finding a dentist difficult. Some dental plans have a low annual cap that makes paying the monthly premium unattractive.
Here is a list of national standard dental treatment prices to help you decide:
a. Brush teeth
Insurance usually pays all cleaning fees twice a year. A standard dental hygienist’s cleaning should cost around $127 on average.
b. Composite tooth filling
The cost of a filling depends on the size of the cavity and the material used for the filling. Composite or tooth-colored fillings can cost $90 to $250 to restore one surface and $150 to $450 to restore three or more surfaces. Dental insurance typically pays 50-80% of the fee, and the average uninsured cost is $204.
c. Removal of wisdom teeth
Removing all wisdom teeth at once is inexpensive. Without the discount for removing all four teeth, expect to pay about $416 per tooth if you have insurance, and $250 to $750 without insurance.
d. Endodontic treatment (root canal treatment)
The cost of root canal treatment can vary widely depending on the dentist’s experience. A good dental insurance policy can cover about 50% of the fee, which ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.
e. Tooth crown
The materials used to make your crown will determine the cost. Patients with dental insurance can pay $530 to $1,875 out of pocket for an all-porcelain crown. If you don’t have dental insurance, you can pay anywhere from $800 to $3,000 for this procedure.
3. How to go to the dentist without insurance
Finding a good dentist who can provide quality dental care will help keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. If you don’t have a dentist or dental insurance, here’s what to do:
- Make a list of good dentists. Ask friends, family, and other healthcare professionals for the names of their dentists.
- Call these dental offices and ask about deductible rates for routine checkups and cleanings. If you know you need a specific dental treatment, ask about these prices.
- If you live near a dental school and don’t mind the extra time this option requires, get your price.
- Evaluate the cost of each dentist considering your budget.
- Choose the best dentist you can afford. Make sure the cost of a twice-yearly inspection and cleaning fits within your budget. This is crucial to your oral health and also helps avoid costly dental problems between dental visits.
B. Dental Costs With And Without Insurance
Everyone needs dental care at some point. But not everyone wants to pay for insurance coverage. You’ve probably thought about the costs associated with proper treatment. If you’re considering paying for per-treatment dental costs, it’s important to understand the typical costs of procedures. While avoiding the upfront cost of purchasing dental insurance may seem inexpensive, a good dental insurance plan can significantly reduce the overall cost of care.
1. Check-Ups
The usual inspection and cleaning costs vary. Dentists charge different fees depending on the situation and where you live. In most locations, an average exam costs about $288, which includes an exam, x-rays, and cleaning.
2. Fillings
While fillings are more expensive than a simple dental exam, they correct tooth decay and protect the future health of your mouth. Most filler treatments have stable prices in the following areas:
- $50 to $150 for a single silver amalgam filling.
- $90 to $250 for a single tooth-colored composite filling.
- $250 to $4,500 for a single fill, cast gold or porcelain.
In most cases, if a filling is “hard to come by,” prices can go up. A back tooth, an impacted tooth, or other complications can cost more than a simple filling for an anterior tooth.
3. Tooth extractions
“Non-surgical” and “surgical” extractions are necessary when a tooth cannot be repaired. Treatment costs depend on the length and difficulty of the visit. In general, both nonsurgical and surgical extractions require anesthesia. Average cost of tooth extraction:
- $75 to $300 for a non-surgical tooth extraction with erupting gums.
- $150 to $650 for surgical extraction under anesthesia.
- $185 to $600 for surgical soft tissue and complicated extractions.
- $75 to $200 for wisdom teeth removal.
Impacted teeth can add up to $600 to the cost, depending on the location of the tooth.
4. Crown
While fillings are necessary to block internal damage to a tooth, crowns protect the “outside” of the tooth. The fitting of a crown usually follows a root canal procedure and the cost of a crown is tied to the base material. Crowns can vary greatly in the materials used and thus in the costs:
- $328 average per single resin crown.
- Average $821 per single cast porcelain crown.
- $776 average per single high quality precious metal crown.
5. Root canals
For patients with exposed, infected, or damaged tooth roots, a root canal treatment and “root cutting” of the affected tooth is performed. Most of the time, the cost of root canal treatment is related to the difficulty of the procedure.
- Average of $120 for a single exposed root removal.
- Average $185 for a single residual tooth root extraction.
6. Does supplementary dental insurance save money?
Dental services can be expensive. Many patients try to avoid dental expenses by avoiding dental insurance altogether. While dental insurance coverage typically requires a monthly or annual premium and some upfront or co-payments, in most cases, dental insurance reduces a person’s overall dental expenses. Patients with “average” dental plans can reduce their costs by the following amounts:
- 100 percent of annual routine care costs.
- 80 percent of the cost of fillings, basic procedures and root canals.
- 50% of the cost of bridges, crowns and other major surgeries.
There are more dental insurance options than ever before, so you can find the right plan to balance your costs and savings. According to research from the American Dental Association, the market for dental services in 2015 offers more choices for Americans, and the federal government’s increased transparency makes the system easier to navigate. These government changes have made it easier to find information and get great coverage.
C. How Much Does A Dental Exam Cost Without Insurance?
If you don’t have dental insurance, it can be easy to forego your regular dental visits to save on costs. However, during your regular visits to the dentist, dental check-ups and teeth cleanings take place. Most teeth cleanings take place during normal examinations, but are considered different procedures. Dental exams let you know how your mouth is and how your dentist is able to address and treat any problems that may exist. Here you can find out why regular dental check-ups are so important, what types of dental check-ups there are and what you have to pay for a dental check-up with or without supplementary dental insurance.
1. How much does a dental examination cost?
A dental exam costs between $60 and $120 without insurance. Below is a list of the average prices you could pay for an exam compared to what you would pay with the 1Dental’s Care 500 plan.
2. Why do I need a dental exam?
Dental examinations are an important preventive measure for oral health. They allow dentists or dental hygienists to closely examine the condition of your mouth and recommend additional actions needed to protect your oral health.
a. Types of dental examinations
While most people only imagine one type of dental exam, it’s important to know the difference, especially when you consider the cost. There are actually three types of dental exams your dentist can perform. These include:
- A Periodic Check: You will receive a periodic check at your regular six-month cleaning visit. During the exam, your dentist will examine all of your teeth, examine your gum tissue closely, may perform an oral cancer screening, and review any X-rays you take.
- A restricted exam: A restricted exam focuses specifically on a specific problem. This exam is usually done during emergency room visits or after your dentist sees a problem area on one of your dental X-rays.
- A comprehensive exam: This is a complete exam that shows the dentist the health of your teeth, gums and jaw. A comprehensive exam also includes oral cancer screening, a review of previous dental work, and usually a full series of dental x-rays (although dental x-rays are an additional cost). These exams are usually for new patients or patients who have not been to a dentist for more than three years.
3. Dental exams and dental savings plans
A dental exam isn’t as expensive as, say, a root canal, but with all the other fees you have to pay for cleaning your teeth, cut costs wherever you can. Here’s how much our Careington 500 Series Dental Plan can save on any type of dental exam. The Careington Series plan is a national plan, but here we’ve selected just a few sample price lists for residents of California, New York, and Texas. You’ll be able to see the benefits of a discount dental plan by looking at these example prices.
a. California Careington members
- Regular Oral Assessment – Established Patient: $26
- Pulp Cap Indirect: $39
- Comprehensive Oral Evaluation – New or Established Patient: $44
b. New York members
- Regular Oral Assessment – Resident Patient: $20
- Pulp Cap Indirect: $25
- Comprehensive Oral Assessment – New or Established Patient: $25
c. Texas members
- Regular Oral Assessment – Established Patient: $16
- Pulp Cap Indirect: $21
- Comprehensive Oral Assessment – New or Established Patient: $21
Note: The prices listed above reflect what you can pay at a general dentist who accepts our Careington Care 500 plan, not at a specialist. The experts in our Careington Care 500 network have agreed a fixed 20% discount on their prices, which may vary depending on the specialist. Add the Dental Access Plan to receive 15-50% discounts on general and specialty dentists that we recommend when consulting a specialist.
4. Conclusion
The dental check-up is a preventative treatment that can save you a lot of money in the long term. Try our dental savings plans like the Care 500 plan to make your regular dental visits affordable.
