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How much does dental work cost (w/o insurance)?

I've been going to the same dentist forever and have been using my parent's insurance. I just switched and now have my own insurance - CIGNA. My dentist is not in my network and I would have to pay 50% of all costs every time I go in for a visit. Does anyone know what it costs for dental work on average? Including cleanings, fillings (i get a lot of cavities), occasional xrays?

Public Comments

1. If you have insurance, go to a dentist on that plan. A 50% payment is going to cost you a lot in a short time.
2. An arm and a leg. See if you can get a dental plan also to go along with the insurance. Ask your dentist if he is on any dental plan.
3. The "average" charge doesn't matter. What matters is what dentists *around you* would charge. If you live in a tiny farm town, your costs will be much less than average. If you live in a big city, they'll be much more. Have you asked your dentist what he charges? Have you explained your insurance situation to him? Changing dentists isn't the worst thing in the world, you know. Most people do it many times during their lives. My recommendation would be just to find a new dentist that's in your network. If it doesn't work out and you really hate the new one, you can always go back to the old.
4. Call your dentist's office and ask. They can give you price ranges.
5. An average cleaning and exam, out of pocket, will run you around $150. Maybe $50 per Xray. Fillings, it depends on the fillings, usually they're $130 if they're simple, up to $180 or so. Crowns, if you need one - will run you around $1600 - 2600 per. I have no idea what a root canal is. Extractions are $150 for an easy tooth. My son is having his wisdom teeth out, and assuming it's not complicated, it will run around $2,000 including general anesthesia.
6. You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here - health-quotes.isgreat.org