HOW MUCH IS THE AVERAGE VISIT TO THE DENTIST?

Did you know that there is a growing number of adults who forego dental care because of high cost? People with fixed or low income and people with no insurance are more likely to not make their yearly or bi-weekly checkups. Paying out-of-pocket is not always possible when there is no financial flexibility. As you get up in age, you are more susceptible to cavities, gum diseases and may need expensive procedures like root canals, surgery or implants.

So what is the average cost to anticipate for a dental visit? Let’s take a brief look.

First there are a few factors that affect the cost of a visit. What you should know is that what you are charged is up to the dental office. Something like location can dictate the price of your dental visit. For instance, if the office is located in a larger metropolitan, in the city, the cost will be higher. What you will pay will be impacted by things like more expensive real estate, the dentist’s reputation, if it’s a private practice or an office set up for a more general public.

The second thing to consider that can affect your dental costs is the specialty. Depending on the dentist’s expertise, this can be a more expensive service. If the dental provider targets a specific niche, this can determine what he charges. For example, a pediatric dentist or dentist who works specifically to care for children can be more costly then a dentist with a more general practice.

Now on to procedures. The basic dental exam itself varies with whether it required an x-ray or a more arduous cleaning than one who didn’t need this. Dentists, as we mentioned above, will more likely recommend an additional treatment depending on the outcome of your checkup. These can be exuberantly high and can usually deter the patient from continuing care.

Here are a few general price quotes to what dentists cost on average. These may vary based on everything we mentioned above and these are with no insurance coverage.

A basic dental exam costs between $50-$200. Keep in mind you may pay more if you need additional care. 

A cleanup can cost between $75-$200. 

If you need x-rays done, these will cost you between $25-$250.

Now onto more specialized services: 

If you need crowns, depending on the type, it can cost you between $350-$850. 

For extraction, whether you will need surgery, anesthesia or not, you would be looking at paying between $75-$650. 

As for tooth filling, depending on the type such as plastic, composite resin, porcelain, etc., it would cost between $50-$250. 

For the more popular procedure, the root canal, you could pay between $125-$200 per exposed tooth.

The most expensive cost of all however, is the cost of not seeing a dentist. Not being able to care for your teeth can run you a pretty penny if the damage is too far along. There are a few things you can look into that may assist in reducing your dental care bill.

Insurance is the first option. Seeing if you are eligible can be a first step. If not, some dental offices can work out a payment plan. Find out if you can negotiate a rate with your dentist that can be a little bit more affordable. Discount dental plans are also an option to lower your bill. A more risky idea would be dental school. Some of them provide affordable services but you would be at the mercy of a trainee.

Do your research and find what works for you.