Cost for a dental filling?

[dennis in se pa]

I had my previously discussed 3 cavities under old fillings repaired. $210, $255 and $255. Seems like a lot of dough for cavities. I am I just old or is that too high? The $255's were "3 surface fillings', the $210 was a "2 surface filling". So they said. Any input on this? The $210 took an hour, the other 2 took 45 minutes each.

[dan88911]

I just paid $132 for a filling.
I have another tooth that will need a crown at a cost of $729 total, insur will pick up half.

[fred cook]

Be happy, my wife just had a prosthetic tooth put in. Total cost first to last was $5K! And it's not even gold!

[vash]

sorry..bad info.

edit

[Gogar]

Sounds right to me.

How much is the hourly for your local independent mechanic? Is it more than it used to be?

etc.

[sammyg2]

I had a tooth with a very old silver filling (from teenage years) and the tooth had developed a small crack.
IIRC it cost about $275 to replace that filling.

Money well spent, my portion of that was under $100. it might eventually need a crown but it's fine for now. As long as I stop chewing on ice.

EDIT: that $275 was for a composite restoration, the most 'spensive kind.

[FPB111]

Decay crept under existing cap. Cap removal exposed “resorption” on next capped tooth. So far root canal + gum surgery = ~$3,000. Next, two caps @$1,500 each. If we had kept dental ins ($220 month) they would have covered $1,800.

[Rinty]

It would be helpful if a professional chimed in here. I've always thought fillings were like fingerprints.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Be happy, my wife just had a prosthetic tooth put in. Total cost first to last was $5K! And it's not even gold!

I paid over 7 grand for a tooth to be pulled, and a Titanium stud and abutment to be put in place. after the healing, a new porcelain crown.

In the modern way I blame my mom for it all. She let me have candy as a kid so it is all her fault!

[mgatepi]

Just went through the Implant process....same as GH85, but mine was 5K
Took about 6 visits and 9 months.

Oh and I blame my mother too!!!

[FPB111]

I need to find a dentist in Ohio.

[sammyg2]

For a silver amalgam filling for permanent teeth is $97 to $131 for the first surface and $128 to $183 for the fourth surface.
Whereas, composite resin filling for the front permanent teeth are between $91 to $118 for the first surface and $187 to $248 for the fourth surface.
Composite resin fillings for the rear teeth are more expensive at $ 93 to $183 for the first surface and $216 to $ 288 for the third surface.

https://www.identalhub.com/blog/449/average-cost-of-dental-filling

[Shaun @ Tru6]

16 crowns, 16 veneers, $30K but I got the volume discount.

[dennis in se pa]

I live on the poor side of town, but my dentist’s office is on the rich side. I got composites so I guess it’s inline. Thanks for the replies guys.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

As a dentist, I think the prices are in line, but it reminds me of the saying "you are on the right train, but on the wrong tracks.. versus " You are on the wrong train, but the right track."
The prices seem to be relatively in line, but the rational is not.
First- what is the guarantee this "Composite" filling will last.. and for how long?

...or perhaps these should be the questions. How long do you plan to live? Will this filling make the journey with you or preserve your tooth for that journey? Once this filling fails, what is the next step?

How much will the NEXT step cost (and how can I avoid it?)

This is regardless of material, and regardless of filling size, or price.

And I am not saying composites are junk, and that older "metal" fillings are better..but something got my goat..


the link-regarding the link that mentions composites as the "better" material.

I call Bullsh#t!

https://www.cliniciansreport.org/products/dental-reports/the-epidemic-of-cervical-caries-in-class-ii-resin-box-forms-oral-appliances-proper-care-for-maximum-service-prophy-pastes-helpful-and-harmful-june-2018-volume-11-issue-6.php#

Sorry you can't read it without paying $$$. To summarize, it states these new fangled composites are failing in certain applications in a significant way, with some common sense suggestions to avoid this. Is your dentist using all these precautions? And if so, does he provide a guarantee?

again- it's not to badmouth composites, but different materials have different strengths in different applications. A one size fits all mentality doesn't always work.

Second- what is the dentist's overhead? The dentist has himself, his assistant, a front desk person, an insurance person, not to mention the material overhead and infrastructure overhead, which usually runs about 66% depending on how cheaply the dentist runs the place.

Today I had a patient who I did $10,000 worth of work, redoing work done in mexico (done improperly). The patient went to mexico to avoid the high upfront price.

She got a motormeister. I was surprised they didn't even paint her fan (face?) a matching color.

I spent the whole afternoon puckering my spincter, not knowing if I could undo the damage, but hopeful I could.

In the end, it worked out. I am optimistic, but the entire time I was reminded of this story:

https://www.davidairey.com/picasso-and-pricing-your-work/

probably some urban legend, but still, it applied.

[Evans, Marv]

I'm looking at my bill for a cleaning: cleaning - $109; X-ray - $77; Dentist inspection after cleaning - $61. That's $247 total for cleaning. I don't begrudge my dentist charging that as it seems like a decent cost for the service. IIRC the last couple of fillings I had done cost between $350 & $550.

[sammyg2]

In 1973 my family had just moved to kalifornia.
a local kid thought he owned the neighborhood. I got the best of him but he ended up breaking off one of my front teeth.
My mother got a dentist to open his office at 9 pm and put a temporary crown on my tooth.
My parents couldn't afford a white crown so I got a silver one right in front, that led to more fights but at least it didn't hurt. A few years later I got rid of the silver crown.

That dentist that opened up his office and took care of us became our family dentist until he retired and his son took over.
I ended up having to go to different dentists because of insurance coverage etc. but eventually came back and his son is my dentist now, 45 years later. And I trust him completely.

Having a really good dentist is more important than having a good doctor IMO.

[Bugsinrugs]

According to a 2012 American Dental Student Association survey, the average educational debt from public dental schools was $192,299 for four years. For private schools, that debt reached an average of $263,382. But the cost at some schools can be up to $400,000.Dec 30, 2013
That’s just the beginning....add setting up an office or buying an established practice.

[sammyg2]

I bet the cost to get a degree in dentistry has gone up quite a bit since 2012.
A university of California liberal arts degree costs up to $130k. Rip off i know.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I bet the cost to get a degree in dentistry has gone up quite a bit since 2012.
A university of California liberal arts degree costs up to $130k. Rip off i know.

In the $200 to $250 range for my family member. Plus another $100k or a certificate at an Ivy league place.

Which will all be paid off pretty quickly.