Medically reviewed content. Written with guidance from licensed dental practitioners.
How Much Do Dental Fillings Cost? A 2026 Price Breakdown| Dental fillings are one of the most common restorative procedures in dentistry — more than 90% of adults ages 20 to 64 have had a cavity in a permanent tooth at some point in their lives, according to the CDC. But the price of a filling isn’t a single number. It depends heavily on the material used, how many surfaces of the tooth need repair, where you live, and whether you have insurance. This guide breaks down real 2026 pricing by material, what drives the cost up or down, and how insurance actually changes what you pay out of pocket.
The Most Common Driver of Filling Cost: Material
Material is the single biggest factor in what a filling costs, more than location or the dentist’s experience. Nationally, a filling in 2026 runs roughly $75 to $500 per tooth before insurance, but the material you choose sets which end of that range you land on.
What to look for: if your dentist quotes a price before mentioning material, ask which one is included by default — some practices default to composite unless you specify otherwise, and the price difference between materials on the same tooth can be $100 or more.
Filling Costs by Material (2026)
Amalgam (Silver) Fillings
Typical cost: $75–$256 per tooth, with most patients paying around $120–$170.
Amalgam is a blend of silver, mercury, tin, and copper, and it’s been used for over a century. It remains the least expensive option and is still commonly used on molars, where chewing pressure is highest.
- Durability: 10–15 years, sometimes longer
- Best for: back teeth, where appearance matters less than strength
- Downsides: silver color stands out on visible teeth; some patients prefer to avoid mercury-containing materials, even though major dental health authorities consider amalgam safe for most adults
Composite Resin Fillings
Typical cost: $150–$439 per tooth, with a national average landing around $191–$226.
Composite is now the most commonly placed filling material in the U.S., largely because it matches natural tooth color. It’s made of acrylic resin and powdered glass, and it bonds directly to the tooth.
- Durability: 5–10 years on average, though wear-resistant formulations are extending this
- Best for: front teeth and any visible area, and increasingly back teeth as well
- Downsides: costs 20–50% more than amalgam per surface, and wears faster under heavy chewing pressure
What to look for: front-tooth composite fillings often run higher than back-tooth ones — commonly $200–$500 — because visible teeth require more careful shade-matching and shaping to blend with surrounding enamel.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
Typical cost: $100–$200 per tooth.
Glass ionomer is an acrylic-and-glass material that releases fluoride over time, offering some ongoing protection against further decay in the area.
- Durability: shorter than amalgam or composite; often needs replacement sooner in high-stress spots
- Best for: small fillings, fillings below the gumline, and pediatric or transitional restorations
- Downsides: lower wear resistance makes it a poor choice for molars bearing heavy chewing load
Resin Ionomer Fillings
Typical cost: $150–$300 per tooth.
A hybrid of resin and glass ionomer, this material also releases fluoride while offering somewhat better aesthetics and handling than plain glass ionomer.
- Durability: moderate — less than composite or amalgam
- Best for: smaller restorations where fluoride release is a priority
- Downsides: not well-suited to areas with heavy bite force
Gold, Ceramic, and Porcelain Fillings
Typical cost: $300–$1,774 per tooth, with some lab-fabricated gold restorations running as high as $4,500 for larger or more complex cases.
These are typically lab-made (inlays or onlays) rather than placed directly in a single visit, which is part of why they cost more.
- Durability: gold can last 20–30 years; ceramic typically 15–20 years — the longest-lasting options by far
- Best for: patients who want maximum longevity and don’t mind the higher upfront cost or, for gold, the metallic appearance
- Downsides: highest cost tier; requires at least two visits in most cases since the restoration is fabricated in a lab
What Drives the Price Beyond Material
Number of Tooth Surfaces
Fillings are billed by how many surfaces of the tooth are involved — one surface (ADA code D2391), two surfaces (D2392), or three-plus (D2393). A single-surface filling might run $150–$200, while a three-surface filling on the same tooth, same material, can climb well past $300, since more of the tooth structure has to be rebuilt.
Tooth Location
Molar fillings tend to cost 10–30% more than fillings on premolars or front teeth. Molars do more chewing work, require more precise shaping to restore a functional bite, and are technically harder to access and isolate during the procedure.
Geographic Market
Where you live matters more than most patients expect — dental pricing can swing by up to 150% for the exact same procedure depending on location. Dentists in the urban Northeast (New York, Boston, Washington D.C.) and California metro markets typically charge 30–50% above the national average, while rural Midwest and Southern markets often price 20–30% below it. A composite filling that runs around $275 in Manhattan can cost roughly $175 for the identical procedure in rural Ohio.
This isn’t about the dentistry being different — it’s overhead. Practice rent, staff wages, and malpractice premiums all track the local cost of living, and roughly 70% of the state-to-state variation in dental prices correlates directly with that cost-of-living index. That’s why California, New York, and Hawaii consistently sit at the top of national dental cost comparisons, while Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi consistently sit at the bottom — a pattern that holds not just for fillings but for nearly every restorative procedure, from root canals to crowns to implants.
What to look for: if you’re near a state or metro border, it’s worth checking whether a nearby lower-cost area is a practical option — the same filling, same material, same dentist qualifications, can genuinely cost 30% less just a short drive away.
Dentist’s Experience and Practice Overhead
More established or highly reviewed practices, particularly in cosmetic-focused offices, often charge above the local average — not necessarily because the filling itself is different, but because overhead, staffing, and demand are priced into every procedure.
Filling Costs With vs. Without Insurance
Most dental plans classify fillings as “basic restorative care,” typically covered at 50–80% after your deductible is met, up to your plan’s annual maximum. On a national-average $226 composite filling, that plays out roughly like this:
- 80% coverage plan (deductible met): about $45 out of pocket
- 50% coverage plan (deductible met): about $113 out of pocket
- No insurance: the full $150–$300+ cash price, though many practices offer a modest discount for paying in full at the time of service
What to look for — the composite downgrade clause: many insurance plans will only reimburse at the amalgam rate for a filling placed on a back tooth, even if you and your dentist choose composite for aesthetic reasons. That can leave you covering the price difference yourself, so it’s worth asking your insurer directly whether posterior composite is reimbursed at the composite rate or downgraded to the amalgam rate before you commit to a material.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental fillings at all, though many Medicare Advantage plans include basic dental benefits with annual maximums typically in the $1,000–$2,000 range. If you’re on Medicare and need a filling, it’s worth checking whether your specific Advantage plan includes a dental rider before assuming you’re uncovered.
Dental Insurance vs. Dental Discount Plans
Not everyone weighing filling costs has traditional dental insurance, and it’s worth understanding the alternative before assuming insurance is the only way to reduce your bill.
Traditional dental insurance works on a deductible-and-coinsurance model: you pay a monthly premium, meet an annual deductible (commonly $50–$200), and the plan then covers a percentage of covered procedures up to a yearly maximum — often $1,000–$2,000 for basic plans. Fillings usually fall under “basic restorative care” and are reimbursed at 50–80%, which is where the earlier $45–$113 out-of-pocket estimates on a $226 composite filling come from.
Dental discount (or savings) plans work differently — there’s no deductible, no annual maximum, and no claims process. Instead, you pay an annual membership fee, and in exchange, participating dentists agree to charge you a pre-negotiated, discounted rate — often 10–60% off their standard fee — at the time of service. These plans tend to make the most financial sense for people who need a lot of dental work in a short window, don’t want to wait out a new-patient waiting period, or don’t have access to employer-sponsored insurance.
Which is better for a single filling depends mostly on whether you already have other dental needs. If a filling is likely a one-off, a discount plan’s membership fee may not pencil out compared to just paying cash. If you’re facing several procedures this year, either option can meaningfully reduce total cost — it’s worth doing the math with both before choosing.
Ways to Reduce What You Pay
- Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Under the No Surprises Act, self-pay patients are entitled to a written estimate before treatment — this makes it easy to compare against other practices.
- Check Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). These offer sliding-scale fees based on income and are worth checking if cost is a major barrier.
- Use an HSA or FSA. Pre-tax dollars can meaningfully offset out-of-pocket costs if your employer offers either account.
- Ask about in-network vs. out-of-network pricing. Even with insurance, an out-of-network dentist can leave you paying close to the full cash price.
- Consider a dental school clinic. Accredited dental school clinics typically charge 30–70% below private-practice rates for the same procedures, performed by supervised students or residents — the tradeoff is usually longer appointment times and a longer wait for a first booking.
- Ask about Medicaid dental coverage. Coverage varies significantly by state, but it’s worth checking eligibility if you’re uninsured, since some states cover basic restorative work like fillings for adults, not just children.
- Don’t delay treatment. A filling addressed early is almost always cheaper than the same tooth after decay progresses — a filling that costs $150–$300 today can become a $500–$1,500 inlay or onlay, or an $800–$3,000 crown, if more than half the tooth structure is eventually compromised. Nationally, a routine exam with cleaning runs about $203, so catching decay at that stage is also far cheaper than treating it after it becomes symptomatic.
When a Filling Isn’t Enough
If more than 50–60% of a tooth’s structure is damaged or missing, a standard filling won’t provide adequate support. In that range, dentists typically recommend an inlay or onlay ($500–$1,500) instead, and beyond that, a full crown ($800–$3,000). This is one of the clearest financial arguments for treating a cavity as soon as it’s found rather than waiting for symptoms to force the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Filling Costs:
How much does a dental filling cost without insurance in 2026?
Without insurance, a dental filling typically costs $100 to $300, with a national median around $200 per surface. Amalgam runs on the lower end, composite and other tooth-colored materials on the higher end, and gold or ceramic inlays can run into the thousands.
What is the average cost of a composite filling?
The national average for a composite resin filling is roughly $191 to $226 per tooth, though the full range runs from about $150 to $439 depending on the number of surfaces, tooth location, and geographic market.
Why do some fillings cost so much more than others?
The type of material accounts for most of the difference — amalgam and glass ionomer are the least expensive, composite and resin ionomer are mid-range, and gold or ceramic inlays are the most expensive because they’re lab-fabricated rather than placed directly in one visit.
Does dental insurance fully cover fillings?
Rarely in full. Most plans cover fillings as basic restorative care at 50–80% after the deductible is met, so patients typically still pay some portion out of pocket, and posterior composite fillings are sometimes reimbursed at the lower amalgam rate under a downgrade clause.
Does Medicare cover dental fillings?
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental fillings under federal law, though many Medicare Advantage plans include a basic dental benefit with annual maximums, typically $1,000 to $2,000, that may cover part of the cost.
Is it cheaper to get a filling done at a dental school?
Often, yes. Dental school clinics generally charge less than private practices for the same procedures because the work is performed by supervised students, though appointments usually take longer.
What happens if I skip a filling I need?
Untreated decay tends to progress and require more extensive — and more expensive — treatment later: a filling that costs $150 to $300 today can turn into a $500 to $1,500 inlay or onlay, or an $800 to $3,000 crown, if the tooth structure deteriorates further.
Bottom Line
Filling costs in 2026 vary widely — from under $100 for a small amalgam filling to well over $1,000 for a lab-made gold or ceramic restoration — and material choice is the biggest lever most patients can control, followed closely by geography and how many tooth surfaces need repair. Insurance narrows the gap but rarely eliminates it, especially with downgrade clauses on posterior composite, and dental discount plans or school clinics can close it further for patients without coverage. The clearest way to keep costs down over time isn’t finding the cheapest material — it’s treating cavities while a filling is still enough, before the same tooth needs a far more expensive inlay, onlay, or crown.
Read more: Tooth Filling Costs Without Insurance
When considering dental fillings, it’s essential to weigh the costs, benefits, and drawbacks of each type of filling material. Amalgam fillings offer durability and cost-effectiveness, while composite fillings provide aesthetic advantages. Glass ionomer and resin ionomer fillings release fluoride but may not be as durable, and gold fillings offer longevity at a higher price. Ultimately, the choice of filling material should be made in consultation with your dentist, who can help you evaluate your specific needs, preferences, and budget. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices can also help prevent cavities and reduce the need for fillings in the first place. Understanding your options empowers you to make informed decisions about your dental health and care.
