How Much Does It Cost to Fill a Cavity? (Price Guide)

A filling is one of the most common dental procedures, and its price is set by two things: what the filling is made of and how much of the tooth it covers. A small filling on one surface costs less than a large one that wraps around several surfaces, and tooth-colored composite costs more than silver amalgam.

This guide shows what published sources report for each material and size, why estimates differ, and how insurance and payment options affect what you pay. It deals with cost only. Whether you need a filling, and which material suits your tooth, is a decision for your dentist.

Pearl reports a national range of $170 – $450 for a cavity filling, based on ADA fee survey data, with an average of $260. Authority Dental reports an average of $200 for a one-surface composite filling, within $100 – $400, and Cigna reports roughly $191 for a composite filling on one tooth.

The numbers are close enough to give you a working budget, but the final price depends on the tooth and the material, covered below.

A tooth has several surfaces, and the more a filling covers, the more material and time it takes. Authority Dental breaks prices out by material and surface count.

• Composite resin is tooth-colored. It costs $200 on average for one surface, rising to $325 for three surfaces.
• Amalgam is the silver-colored material. It averages $150 for one surface and $200 for two, which makes it less expensive than composite in this source. Cigna reports roughly $160 for an amalgam filling.
• Gold foil is far pricier, at $250 – $650 for a single surface.
• Porcelain or ceramic inlays run $500 – $2,800, with an average of $1,150.

Tooth-colored fillings are priced higher than amalgam in most sources, though the size of the gap varies. Which material to use is a clinical choice you should discuss with your dentist.

• Material: As the table shows, composite, amalgam, gold, and porcelain are priced differently.
• Surfaces and size: More surfaces mean more material and chair time.
• Which tooth: Back teeth with several surfaces can take longer than front teeth.
• Your location: Fees are higher in expensive metro areas.
• The office: Practices set their own fees, and in-network dentists may charge a contracted rate.
• Related charges: An exam and X-rays are often billed separately from the filling itself, as is numbing or sedation if offered.

You may see one site quote a low range and another quote a higher one. Pearl's figure is drawn from a national fee survey and covers fillings in general. Authority Dental splits fillings by material and surface count. Cigna reports a single average per material. Because each source defines "a filling" differently, they will not agree exactly.

When comparing, match the material and the surface count. A quote for a one-surface amalgam filling cannot be compared fairly with a figure for a multi-surface composite.

Dental plans commonly classify fillings as basic restorative care and pay a share of the allowed amount, though the share differs by plan. After the deductible, you pay the remaining percentage. Plans also have an annual maximum, so a large amount of dental work in one year can leave you paying more than expected.

Some plans pay only toward the lowest-cost material and leave you to cover the difference if you pick another. Ask your insurer whether that clause applies before you choose a material.

Without insurance, you pay the office's full fee. You can lower it with these approaches:

• Ask for the cash price and whether there is a discount for paying at the visit.
• Compare two or three offices by phone.
• Look at community health centers, which may charge on a sliding scale based on income.
• Check dental school clinics, where students treat patients under supervision at reduced fees.

• What material is being used, and how much does it cost?
• How many surfaces will the filling cover?
• Is the exam or X-ray billed separately?
• Will my insurance pay a lower amount if I choose a different material?
• Is there a payment plan if I need several fillings?