Tooth Filling Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

Filling a cavity is one of the most routine dental charges, but the bill is not one flat number. Dentists price fillings by material and by how many surfaces of the tooth the filling covers, and each filling is billed per tooth. A small cavity on the biting surface costs less than a larger one that wraps around the side of the tooth.

Below, you will find prices for composite, amalgam, and gold fillings, how the surface count changes the cost, and what insurance may or may not pay. Which material suits a given tooth is a decision for a licensed dentist.

Without a dental plan you pay the practice's full fee. Composite fillings are the most common tooth-colored option, and the table shows how the price climbs as the filling covers more of the tooth.

Each row is the cost of one filling in one tooth. Two fillings in two different teeth are two charges, so a visit that treats several cavities adds up quickly.

Amalgam is the traditional silver-colored filling material. It generally costs less than composite for the same number of surfaces, which you can see by comparing the tables.

Amalgam is less commonly chosen where appearance matters, since it does not match the tooth color. Ask your dentist what they offer, because some offices no longer place it.

Material is the largest single factor after the size of the cavity. These sources break prices out by material rather than by surface count, and they define their categories a little differently.

Gold is priced well above composite and amalgam, and indirect fillings made in a lab (such as porcelain or gold inlays) are the most expensive category. The NewMouth rows are ranges across a market, so a wide spread is expected.

CareCredit publishes average prices by material, which makes it easy to compare the typical charge for each type.

A porcelain inlay or onlay costs several times what a standard composite filling does. That difference is why a quote for a large restoration can look so much higher than a quote for a simple cavity.

Different sources report different numbers for the same filling. That is normal. Estimates may vary because they define the filling differently (one surface or several), cover different regions, or draw on different groups of dentists and insurers.

An insurer's figure can reflect negotiated rates in its network, which may differ from what an out-of-network or uninsured patient is charged. Treat every published number as a reference point and get a quote from the office you plan to use.

• Number of surfaces. More surfaces mean more material and more chair time.
• Material. Composite, amalgam, gold, and lab-made restorations are priced separately.
• Location. Fees differ between cities and between regions.
• Which tooth. Back teeth can be harder to reach, and some offices charge differently for them.
• Extras. Exams and X-rays are often billed separately from the filling itself.

Dental plans commonly treat fillings as a basic service, and many plans pay a share of the cost rather than all of it. What you owe depends on your deductible, your coinsurance percentage, and your annual maximum. Some plans pay the same amount toward composite and amalgam and leave you with the difference, so ask how your plan handles the material you choose.

Before treatment, ask the dental office for a written estimate and ask your insurer what it will cover. If you have a waiting period for basic services, find out when it ends.

• Request an itemized quote that separates the exam, X-ray, and filling.
• Ask if the office offers a discount plan for patients without insurance.
• Look into payment plans, and read the interest terms carefully.
• Ask whether a dental school or community clinic near you offers lower fees.