How Much Does It Cost To Get A Filling

How Much Are Dental Fillings?

Have a cavity? Wondering how much are dental fillings near you? How much dental fillings cost ultimately depends on a few different factors. But understanding which variables at play can at least keep you from getting caught off guard by a surprise bill in the mail later on.

What Are Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are your first line of restorative defense against tooth decay. A filling is essentially a patch or rebuilt area inside of your tooth where a cavity developed. The material of dental fillings is pliable, so your dentist can shape it to specific areas throughout your mouth.

Modern fillings can be made out of various materials. Most are shaped by hand and placed directly inside of your tooth at the time of the appointment. Others are lab-made fillings that your dentist will take an impression for, send it to the lab, then place a couple of weeks later.

A modest dental filling restores the compromised area of your decaying tooth so that it looks and functions properly. They block out food and bacteria so that your cavity doesn't get any larger.

Why Would You Need A Dental Filling?

If you have a small to medium-sized cavity, you need a dental filling. However, dental fillings costs can vary depending on the size of the restoration. So, the sooner your dentist diagnosis a cavity, the quicker you want to have it treated.

It's super important to remember that cavities are bacterial infections that will continue to spread if you don't treat them. How much are dental fillings? The price goes up the longer you wait to fix your tooth. Ultimately a cavity can gradually expand into the nerve or so much structural damage that getting a filling isn't even an option anymore.

Fillings are specifically for treating tooth decay. Common symptoms include:

Tooth sensitivity
Tenderness to sweets
Occasional sharp jolts or zings coming from a tooth
Discomfort when biting down
Tooth throbbing or pain

Cost of Dental fillings with No insurance

The average cost of a dental filling without insurance will vary based on the dentists' fees, type of filling material used, the number of surfaces needing a filling, and additional procedures need. On average, you can expect to pay $200 to $600 for a filling but can cost up to $4,500 depending on your unique situation.

Types Of Dental Filling Costs

If you ask your dentist's office, "How much are dental fillings?", they'll probably reply with, "Which type?" The materials your filling is made from will directly impact the cost of the procedure and even how much your dental insurance will cover. Depending on market prices, some dental filling materials constantly adjust due to supply and demand.

Dental fillings placed at your dentist's office on the same day tend to be more affordable than the ones that are crafted in a lab. Lab-made fillings are a lot less common, but some dentists still prefer them.

The smaller the cavity, the smaller the filling, resulting in a lower cost.

Filling Type	No Insurance Cost
Silver amalgam	$50 to $300
Composite resin	$90 to $450
Gold filling	$250 to $2,000
Porcelain inlay/onlay	$300 to $4,500

Silver Amalgam Fillings

Cost without insurance: $50 to $300

In almost every case, silver fillings are the most affordable type of filling available. For one or two surfaces, silver fillings generally cost $50 to $150. For three or more surfaces, the typical cost is $120 to $300 or more.

The percentage that insurance will pay for is usually higher than other types of filling materials.

Traditional silver fillings are made out of a metal amalgam or alloy (mixture of different materials.) Amalgam fillings have been used for decades. They're great when it's impossible to get a tooth dry since no bonding is necessary. The downside is that metal fillings do require more tooth preparation, causing them to be more invasive to teeth in general. Plus, they're silver. So, if you have a cavity on a tooth that's visible when you smile, you'll be able to see the metal filling. But on back teeth, that's usually not as big of an issue.

Composite Fillings

Cost without insurance: $90 to $450

White composite fillings are the second most common type of dental filling. For one or two surfaces, tooth-colored composite fillings generally cost $90 to $250. For three or more surfaces, the typical cost is $150 to $450 or more. These fillings cost a little more than silver fillings. However, the price of white fillings has significantly come down over the past several years. It may not be much of a difference paying for white fillings with dental insurance compared to older silver options.

With a white filling, you're able to restore any tooth in your smile without the restoration being visible. This aesthetic perk alone can make white dental fillings cost well worth the slightly larger investment. Plus, composite bonds closely to your tooth, which keeps the restoration as minimally invasive as possible.

Gold Fillings

Cost without insurance: $250 to $2,000

Gold dental fillings are usually lab-made versions. Also known as "inlays" and "onlays" or "three-quarter crowns." As a larger lab-made restoration, gold is durable and pliable for areas of more aggressive tooth decay. They're a nice go-between between a smaller dental filling and a full-coverage crown. However, how much are dental fillings when they're gold? That's a great question. It can be higher one month and lower another, depending on current market values. But they will definitely cost more than a silver or composite filling does.

Porcelain Fillings

Cost without insurance: $300 to $4,500

White dental fillings are not the same thing as porcelain fillings. A porcelain filling is lab-made (inlay/onlay) similar to a crown. Because of the additional steps required in making and placing them, it increases lab-made dental fillings cost.

Plus, there's the matter of the materials used. Not all porcelains and ceramics are the same. Some are crafted from highly dense zirconia. Others are custom-milled CEREC treatments. The type of materials necessary directly impacts the overall cost of the procedure.

Additional Costs Of Dental Fillings

Let's say you're getting a small, affordable white or silver filling. Are there other costs that can affect the cost of treatment? Absolutely.

1) Additional procedures

Procedure	Average Cost
Dental exam	$50-$150
Dental X-rays	$10-$250
Local anesthetic	$60-$500

2) Cost of living in your area

If you're in a location with higher rent and housing, the dental fees will reflect that.

3) If you're getting sedation

Want to sleep through a dental filling appointment? The extra fee will add to your overall cost. Sedation comes in different levels, so pricing will as well.

4) Your insurance coverage

Some plans pay up to a specific amount, regardless of the type of filling you're getting. If you want to pay a little more for a white or porcelain one, that's your call to make.

5) The number of tooth surfaces involved

Single-surface dental fillings cost more than two or three-surface fillings do. If you have a cavity between your teeth, your dentist will need to go through the top of the tooth to get to it, meaning your restoration will be a two-surface filling. If it's only on the chewing surface, it will only be one surface.

Are Dental Fillings Covered By Insurance?

As a general rule, dental fillings are usually covered by most dental insurance plans. However, your plan can dictate the type of filling covered and how much money your insurance plan will pay for every year. If you only need one of two fillings, you may only spend a couple of hundred dollars (more or less) but if you need fillings throughout your entire mouth, you could easily max out your insurance benefits.

A typical dental filling is usually covered by about 80%. The level of coverage depends on your policy, of course. It's up to you or your employer (whoever initially enrolled in the plan) to select the levels of coverage you receive. These vary with each company, so one insurance carrier is not necessarily always better than another.

If you have a deductible to meet, you'll have to pay up to that amount before your insurance pays for your filling. Theoretically, even if your plan covers 80% of a filling, you might still be paying for 50% or more of it yourself, depending on your deductible.

To find out exactly how much are dental fillings going to cost in your situation, get a customized care plan from your dentist. The insurance and treatment coordinator will tabulate your coverage, incorporate it into the treatment plan, and be able to show you a line-by-line estimate of your expected fees and financial responsibilities. It does sometimes seem like rocket science, but your dental team is there to help!

The Cheapest Way To Get Dental Fillings

Is there a cheaper way to afford dental fillings? Absolutely.

Dental Schools

An easy way to cut your dental bills in less than half is to head straight to your nearest dental school. Dental schools provide amazing, high-quality treatment performed by the more experienced dental students and always under the oversight of a supervising professor dentist. The results are impeccable, the costs are low, but there is one downside: you'll be spending way more time waiting. After all, they do need to be checked and graded on their work!

Payment Plans

It's pretty common for people to use payment plans to pay for dental work. Especially since most insurance carriers haven't adjusted their benefits to the average cost of living in, oh, over 40 years. And these days a lot of people don't have dental insurance, period. With a payment plan you can usually get 0% or low interest and immediate approval, then make low monthly payments on the balance of your filling. That way you can schedule treatment right away, even if it's not in your emergency budget.

Treating the Cavity ASAP

The earlier you treat an area of tooth decay, the more affordable the procedure is going to be. The price of a small filling today could easily evolve into hundreds or thousands of dollars more in treatment several months down the road. Just because a tooth doesn't hurt doesn't mean you can put treatment off. It will ultimately come back and haunt you. It's better to finance a small dental filling ASAP than it is to worry about the price of a root canal and crown that will cost way more.

Community Dental Clinics

Most communities will have a full-time or pop-up community dental clinic that offers charity work for people who qualify. The requirements vary depending on which clinic you visit. Most only provide basic services like dental cleanings, exams, and extractions. Some may offer smaller dental fillings too.

Alternative To A Dental Filling

Maybe you're not convinced that you need a dental filling just yet. If that's the case, consider the following:

1) Get a second opinion

Is your new dentist over-reacting to a lesion on a tooth? If you feel uneasy about moving forward with treatment, do yourself a favor and at least go get a second opinion. If the second dentist affirms the situation, you know you need to take care of it.

2) Silver diamine fluoride

Although SDF can seriously stain teeth, it can help to arrest (stop) cavities in situations where a filling may not be appropriate. Such as in special needs patients or young children who might not be able to sit still without sedation, or are about to lose their teeth in a year or two.

3) Have your dentist put a watch on it

Is the lesion extremely small? Has it not yet broken through the outer layer of your enamel? Your dentist may want to prescribe a fluoride gel for you to use and ask that you re-vamp your oral hygiene routine. They can check it at your next exam to see if the lesion has spread.

What To Expect From A Dental Filling Procedure

Getting a dental filling is one of the most basic types of dental treatment out there. If you've never had one, there's nothing to worry about!

First, your dentist will gently numb your tooth. They'll usually use some numbing gel before your injection to keep you as comfortable as possible. Once your tooth is numb, they'll clean out the decayed and damaged tooth structures. Finally, they'll prep the tooth surface left behind, then shape the filling material directly into your tooth. If it's a lab-made filling, a second visit will be required.

You can expect the anesthetic to wear off within a few hours. In the meantime, try not to chew on anything (including your cheek or tongue!)

Do I Need A Root Canal?

If you wait too long to get a dental filling, it will almost always eventually spread into the nerve of your tooth. Once that happens, you'll be wishing you had the lower dental fillings costs to worry about. By then, a root canal and crown will be your only option to save your tooth. Even if the decay starts to take up a larger area of your enamel and doesn't rupture into the nerve, you'll still need a dental crown, which costs hundreds of dollars more than a filling will.

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