We never quote figures, because a meaningful number requires an examination and a defined treatment scope. What this page does is explain what moves the price for each kind of treatment, and give you the questions that turn a headline number into something you can actually compare.
Why nobody can quote you over the phone
The same procedure name can describe very different work. A crown on a sound tooth and a crown on a tooth needing a build-up and root-canal treatment are both 'a crown', and they are not the same price. Until a dentist has examined the tooth and usually taken an X-ray, any number is a guess.
Be wary of a firm total offered before the scope is defined. It usually means either the scope will change later or the quote excludes things you will still have to pay for.
What moves the price, by treatment
Each of these pages breaks down its own cost factors in detail.
- Dental implants — imaging, extraction, grafting, abutment, final restoration, provisional teeth, sedation
- Crowns — material, core build-up, whether a root canal is needed, laboratory, number of visits
- Clear aligners — complexity, number of aligners, refinements, retainers, replacements
- Fillings — size, number of surfaces, material, front or back tooth
- Dentures — type, materials, relines and adjustments, whether implants are involved
- Extractions — simple or surgical, sedation, socket preservation
- Full-mouth restoration — how many teeth are saved versus replaced, phasing, provisional teeth
What a good estimate always contains
If your estimate does not have these, ask for a version that does. A single total with no breakdown cannot be compared to anything.
- Each stage listed separately with its own fee
- An explicit statement of what is excluded
- The materials or laboratory work named
- The number of visits involved
- What could change once treatment begins, and why
- Any review or maintenance costs after treatment finishes
Questions that make two quotes comparable
Price differences between practices are usually differences in scope rather than margin. These questions surface that.
- Does this figure include everything needed to finish, or only this stage?
- What happens to the price if you find more once you start?
- Is the laboratory work included, and which laboratory?
- Are follow-up appointments and reviews included?
- What is the policy if this fails or needs replacing?
- Can this be phased across two benefit years?
Insurance and financing
Coverage depends entirely on your individual plan, and financing approval depends on the lender. Neither can be confirmed through this website. See dental insurance and financing for the terms worth understanding before you sign anything.
Common questions
What people ask before scheduling
Why will you not tell me what something costs?
Because we are not the practice that treats you and we have not examined you. Prices are set by the dental practice, and a meaningful figure needs a defined treatment scope. Any site quoting you a number without both is guessing.
Is the cheapest quote the wrong one?
Not necessarily. Find out what differs — usually it is scope. A lower quote that excludes the build-up, the abutment or the final restoration is not actually lower.
What is an annual maximum?
The most your dental plan will pay in a benefit year. For larger treatment it often matters more than the percentage covered, because you hit the ceiling either way.
Can I spread treatment across two years to use two annual maximums?
Sometimes, and it is a fair question to ask. Whether it is clinically sensible depends on what is being deferred and for how long.
Do you get paid if I go ahead with treatment?
AIXIS, LLC d/b/a Carbide Digital operates this website. Any commercial arrangement is with the dental practice, not with you — there is no charge to you for requesting an appointment.
What if I cannot afford the recommended plan?
Say so directly. Ask what is urgent, what is preventive and what is elective, and whether the plan can be phased. A good practice will give you an order of priority rather than an all-or-nothing choice.