In the U.S., a single-tooth filling typically runs $150–$450 without insurance, with material, tooth, and surfaces driving the price.
Shopping for a cavity repair brings up one question: what you’ll pay today and over the next few years. This guide gives clear price ranges, what changes the bill, and how to trim costs without cutting corners. You’ll see material choices, real-world fee examples, and insurance math laid out in plain English.
Tooth Filling Cost Breakdown By Material And Surfaces
Prices vary by the material in your mouth and how much tooth structure the dentist restores. Dentists bill by “surfaces.” A tiny spot on one surface costs less than a multi-surface rebuild on a molar. Front teeth and back teeth can be priced differently, too.
Typical Price Ranges At A Glance
| Material | Typical Range (Per Tooth) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amalgam (Silver) | $100–$300 | Often lower fee; used on back teeth; safe for adults and kids over six. |
| Composite (Tooth-Colored) — Front | $200–$450 | Cosmetic match; cost scales with surfaces restored. |
| Composite — Back | $200–$500 | More technique-sensitive; may carry higher fee than metal. |
| Glass Ionomer | $150–$350 | Common near roots or as liners; not for heavy bite stress. |
| Cast Inlay/Onlay (Lab-Made) | $600–$1,200+ | For large defects; different procedure than a direct filling. |
Those bands reflect national fee schedules, insurer databases, and posted office fees. A one-surface composite on a premolar sits near the lower end. A three-surface composite on a molar, or anything that needs a build-up, lands higher.
What Changes The Price The Most
Number Of Surfaces
Dentists code a one-, two-, three-, or four-plus-surface restoration. Every added surface raises time and materials. The jump from one to two surfaces can add $50–$120. Moving to three or more surfaces can add another $70–$150.
Tooth Location
Front teeth often carry different codes from molars. Back teeth take more chewing load and can require extra steps to keep the field dry, so the fee tends to be higher.
Material Choice
Tooth-colored resin blends with enamel and bonds to tooth structure. That technique can cost more than metal. Some plans still “downgrade” a white filling on a back tooth to the metal allowance, which shifts a portion of the fee to you.
Geography And Clinic Type
Urban centers often price higher than small towns. Corporate discount plans post public fee schedules; private practices set their own ranges based on overhead and training.
Visit Extras
Numbing, liners, bases, and polish are usually part of the fee. Add-ons like nitrous, desensitizer, or a separate core build-up bring the total up. If decay reaches the nerve, a root canal and crown replace the plan for a simple filling.
How Insurance Handles A Cavity Repair
Most dental PPOs put fillings in a “basic restorative” bucket. Many plans pay a high share once you meet the deductible, but caps and downgrades still matter. FAIR Health notes that basic restorative services often reimburse at about an eighty-percent level, subject to the plan’s allowed amount and annual maximum. That means the percentage applies to the insurer’s number, not always the office fee.
Common Terms In Plain Language
- Allowed amount: The plan’s internal price for a code in your area. Your share is based on this figure.
- Deductible: The amount you pay each year before the plan starts sharing costs.
- Annual maximum: A yearly cap. Once you hit it, you pay the rest.
- Downgrade: If you choose a white filling on a back tooth and the plan pays at the silver rate, you pay the difference plus your normal coinsurance.
Want to read more on materials and longevity straight from the profession? The ADA’s MouthHealthy page on dental filling options explains choices and where each material tends to be used. For plan mechanics, FAIR Health’s plain-English guide to dental benefits shows how basic restorative coverage often works.
Real-World Fee Signals You Can Trust
You can sanity-check quotes a few ways before treatment day. Many multi-state dental groups publish discount-plan fee schedules. Those lists show the cash price and the discounted price, which helps anchor a reasonable local range. Some insurers post “patient direct” rate sheets, and state cost tools publish typical payments by code. These aren’t your exact numbers, but they reveal the ballpark.
What Posted Schedules Reveal
National discount schedules commonly list resin one-surface posterior codes near $100–$220 at the discounted rate and around $200–$300 at the standard cash rate. Two- and three-surface versions step up in $40–$90 increments. Private offices often publish menus with similar patterns, with front-tooth resin fillings priced a bit lower than molar work of the same size and surfaces.
When A Filling Isn’t The Final Answer
Sometimes decay undermines too much structure. In that case, the dentist may recommend an inlay, onlay, or crown. Those are lab-made or milled restorations and carry higher fees. If a tooth hurts to temperature or pressure and testing points to nerve involvement, the path shifts to root canal therapy plus a crown. Planning early saves money here; a small filling today beats a larger build-out later.
How To Lower Your Out-Of-Pocket Without Cutting Quality
Ask For A Written Estimate With Codes
Request the CDT codes on your estimate. Typical codes for resin on back teeth are D2391–D2394. Metal on back teeth runs D2140–D2161. With codes in hand, you can call your plan or check an online estimator to see the allowed amount and your share.
Lean On Preventive Visits
Cleanings and exams help catch decay when a small resin spot will do. Early treatment means fewer surfaces and less time in the chair. That’s real money saved.
Use In-Network When The Math Works
In-network dentists accept set rates and handle claims. Out-of-network care can be great too, but the gap between the office fee and the allowed amount becomes your responsibility. Ask both offices for a pre-treatment estimate to compare.
Time The Work With Your Annual Maximum
If your plan resets January 1, and you’re close to the max this year, ask whether a small filling can wait a few weeks. The team can advise based on cavity size and risk. Don’t delay if the tooth is at risk of breaking or pain is present.
Consider A Discount Plan Or Cash Bundles
Some practices offer in-house memberships or same-day pay bundles. These often trim 10–40% from posted fees and include exams and X-rays. Read terms, compare totals, and make sure the plan fits your likely care for the year.
Sample Insurance Math You Can Copy
These walk-throughs use round numbers that mirror common allowed amounts from insurer databases and posted schedules. Your plan may differ, but the steps stay the same.
| Scenario | Plan Math | Your Share |
|---|---|---|
| PPO, Basic At 80%, Deductible Met D2392 (two-surface resin, back tooth) — Allowed $240 |
Plan pays 80% of $240 = $192 | $48 |
| Composite Downgrade On A Molar Office fee $320; Metal allowance $200; Basic 80% |
Plan pays 80% of $200 = $160 | $320 − $160 = $160 |
| Out-Of-Network With Balance Bill Allowed $250; Office fee $310; Basic 80% |
Plan pays 80% of $250 = $200 | Coinsurance $50 + balance $60 = $110 |
Material Pros, Longevity, And When Each Shines
Amalgam
Durable and budget-friendly for bite-heavy molars. Color is silver. Large health bodies support its safety in approved age groups. If the look in back teeth doesn’t bother you, this pick can stretch dollars.
Composite Resin
Blends with enamel and bonds to tooth structure. Great for front teeth and many back-tooth repairs. Costs more than metal in many markets and can take longer to place. Technique matters, which is why a dental dam or strict isolation is common.
Glass Ionomer
Helpful near roots and in low-stress spots. Releases fluoride. Not a match for heavy bite forces, so dentists often use it as a liner or temporary step before a bonded resin finish.
What A Clear, Fair Estimate Looks Like
Before you sit down, ask the front desk for an itemized estimate with codes, the office fee, the plan’s allowed amount, your coinsurance, and any downgrades. If you’re paying cash, request the cash or membership rate in writing. Bring that sheet to any second opinion so you’re comparing the same service apples-to-apples.
Frequently Missed Cost Triggers
Moisture Control
Back-tooth resin often needs strict isolation. If the office uses a dental dam or special isolation system, the appointment may run longer, reflected in the fee.
Hidden Cracks
Once decay is removed, the tooth can show fractures. If the walls won’t hold a direct filling, the plan can shift to an inlay, onlay, or crown. That raises cost but protects the tooth from splitting later.
Old Metal Removal
Taking out a wide silver filling and rebuilding the tooth usually lands in the three- or four-surface range. Ask whether a full-coverage option is smarter long term in that case.
How To Compare Quotes In Your City
- Gather the codes and surfaces from your exam.
- Check an online estimator from your insurer or a public fee schedule in your state to see the going rate.
- Call two offices with the same details and ask for a written estimate.
- Confirm whether your plan will downgrade a white filling on a molar.
- Ask about cash discounts, membership plans, and financing only if needed.
Bottom Line For Your Budget
Small cavities cost less. A one-surface resin repair on a premolar may sit near $200–$300. Larger three-surface molar work can climb to $350–$500. Amalgam often trims $50–$150 off those figures. Insurance can cut your share sharply once the deductible is met, though downgrades and annual caps still shape the final bill. Get the estimate in writing, compare allowed amounts, and treat early. Your mouth and your wallet both win.