How much does a cavity filling cost without insurance?

Filling cost by material

Most fillings today are composite, a tooth-colored resin. Amalgam is a silver-colored alloy that is durable and cheaper but visible.^[1] The material averages in the table above come from CareCredit’s 2023 to 2024 cost study, which also lists a same-day ceramic (CEREC) restoration at $810.^[2] For composite, Pearl’s ADA-based average runs higher than CareCredit’s, and Real Dental Costs’ one-surface figure sits between the two.^[1][2][3]

Filling cost by number of surfaces

Fillings are billed by the number of tooth surfaces they cover, so a small one-surface filling costs less than a three- or four-surface filling on the same tooth.^[1] Back teeth tend to need larger fillings and cost more.^[1] As one fee schedule example, Pacific University’s dental hygiene clinic charges $70 for one surface, $80 for two, $90 for three and $100 for four.^[4]

Filling cost with insurance

• Front teeth: most PPO plans pay 60% to 80% after the deductible.^[1]
• Back teeth: many plans pay only the amalgam fee for a composite filling, so you pay the difference.^[1] Ask which fee schedule your plan uses before treatment.
• Typical coverage: Real Dental Costs describes basic work such as fillings as covered at about 80%.^[5]
• Waiting period: sources differ. Pearl says basic benefits typically have none^[1]; Real Dental Costs puts the typical basic waiting period at 3 to 6 months.^[5] Check your plan.

Filling cost by state

Pearl’s state averages for a composite filling run from $225 in Oklahoma and $230 in Louisiana to $320 in New York and $330 in Hawaii.^[1]

Fillings vs root canals: which do you need?

A filling is not a cheaper substitute for a root canal; they treat different stages of decay. A filling repairs a cavity in the hard outer layers of the tooth. A root canal is needed when the pulp inside the tooth, which holds its nerves and blood vessels, becomes inflamed or infected from deep decay, a crack or problems with an earlier filling.^[8] If a cavity covers a large part of the tooth, a filling would likely fail and a crown is often the better fix.^[1]

Treatment	When it is used	Average without insurance
Composite filling	Cavity that has not reached the pulp	$260[1]
Crown	Large cavity or weak tooth	$1,560[10]
Root canal	Inflamed or infected pulp	$1,067[9]
Root canal plus crown	Back tooth after a root canal	$2,209[9]

Catching a cavity while a filling still works is the cheapest outcome. See dental crown cost and root canal cost by tooth for the full breakdowns.

How to pay less for a filling

1. Treat cavities early. A one-surface filling costs less than a larger one.^[1]
2. Ask about amalgam for back teeth. It averages $139 against $226 for composite.^[2]
3. Try a dental school clinic. Pacific University’s hygiene clinic charges $70 to $100 per filling.^[4]
4. Compare savings plans. Aspen Dental’s $49-a-year savings plan lists 15% off fillings at participating Aspen Dental offices.^[6]
5. Use a dental discount plan. Care Anytime’s dental benefit shows a sample composite (white) filling on a front tooth at $98 against a regular cost of $220, based on 2021 FAIR Health data for Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago and New York City.^[7]