Dental filling cost

Fees are usually set by the number of surfaces the filling covers, and back teeth often need larger restorations and harder access. The material and the depth of the decay also matter. Learn how the office counts surfaces and what the quote assumes about the depth of decay.

Usually it is billed separately and may cost more. Some plans pay as if you had chosen the lower-cost material and leave you the difference for composite. Which material suits a tooth is a clinical decision first. The FDA has published information on dental amalgam, and your dentist can explain the trade-offs for your tooth.

Usually, as basic care. MetLife, Guardian and Cigna list fillings as basic, and UnitedHealthcare lists simple fillings the same way. A deductible and coinsurance often apply, and some plans pay toward a lower-cost material. Request a written estimate and the plan's position on composite fillings on back teeth.

Yes. If decay reaches the nerve once it is opened up, the tooth may need root canal treatment, and often a crown afterwards. That is not a mistake in the original quote, since the depth is not always visible on an X-ray. Ask the office what it would do if that happened and how the fee would change.

Not always. A filling that is intact, sealed and comfortable may not need replacing, and removing one takes away sound tooth. A dentist can check for decay under the edges or a crack. Check what the findings are, what would happen if you waited and what the replacement would involve.

Dental school clinics, dental hygiene school clinics and community health centers can offer care at reduced fees, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Check what each provides. Do not delay care for a painful or infected tooth while you look.

That depends on the dentist, the teeth involved and how you tolerate treatment. Some offices treat a whole quadrant in one visit. Ask whether the fee changes, whether it reduces the number of appointments and whether anesthetic on both sides of the mouth is a concern for you.

Often, yes. Many plans and public programs treat children's dental care separately. Medicaid and CHIP must cover dental care for children in every state, and other plans may have different waiting periods or limits for children. Check your plan, and see the Medicaid and CHIP dental coverage guide.

Address the cause. Cleaning between the teeth, using fluoride toothpaste and limiting frequent sugary snacks and drinks all reduce new decay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's oral health guidance. Your dentist can also assess whether a sealant or fluoride treatment would help for your mouth.

Usually, since a dentist needs images to see decay between teeth and to judge how deep it runs. Ask whether recent X-rays are on file and whether taking new ones is billed on the same visit. Then check whether your plan limits how often it pays for X-rays.

You can ask, and the choice is clinical first. Ask why a material is proposed for that tooth, what it would cost and whether your plan pays toward it or only toward the cheaper material. See the composite versus amalgam comparison.

Ask for it itemized by tooth and surface, and compare it with a second office using the same lines. Check whether the exam, X-rays and anesthetic are included, and ask about staging if your annual maximum is low.