How much does dental care cost without insurance?

July 26, 2023

5 Min Read

According to Forbes, one person’s average dental exam and routine cleaning cost is around $160. Add in X-rays, which may be required every six months, and you have an average total of just over $300.¹

The recommendation is to go to the dentist every six months or twice a year to ensure you maintain your oral health. That means you’ll pay about $600 on average just for preventive care.

That doesn’t even account for corrective procedures, such as deep-plane scaling, root planing, or root canals.

Dental work is clearly quite expensive without insurance. So, this article will dive into a few benefits of buying a dental insurance policy.

Benefits of dental insurance

Here are a few advantages of getting dental insurance:

1. It can help lower out-of-pocket costs

As mentioned, regular preventive care such as exams, x-rays, and cleanings can cost several hundred dollars per year. Furthermore, your dentist may discover dental issues during your regular oral health checkups.

Procedures to fix these issues can cost a lot. For example, deep-plane scaling and root planing can cost about $200 per quadrant of your mouth. That can add up to almost $800 for all your teeth or $1,400 in a year if you add in your regular exams, x-rays, and cleanings.¹

2. It can help you maintain good oral health

When you get a dental insurance policy, you pay premiums regardless of whether you go to the dentist. Visiting the dentist regularly can incentivize you to take full advantage of your policy’s benefits, such as preventive care.

This will keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Besides the health benefits, this will reduce dental costs by ensuring you won’t have to pay a deductible for a costly corrective procedure. It will also help your dentist catch potential issues early and fix them when it’s cheaper and more manageable.

3. It’s affordable compared to dental procedures

Forbes points out that the average preventive-only dental insurance plans cost $26 per month or $312 per year. Even more comprehensive plans that cover major dental work, like root canals, cost an average of $47 per month or $564 per year. These plans tend to cover 100% of preventive care, 80% to 100% of basic services, and 50% to 80% of major restorative services.²

Remember that on average, preventive care could cost you up to $600 per year. Even if you only need preventive care, a more comprehensive dental insurance plan will, in many cases, cost less than paying for preventive care without insurance.

Dental insurance keeps your teeth healthy for less

Dental costs without insurance can be expensive, even if you only go for preventive care. And fixing major issues will only drive up the costs.

On the flip side, even the most comprehensive dental plans cost just a little more than preventive maintenance. They can cost even less if you can get coverage through work.

Dental plans offer peace of mind since you have a safety net if issues like tooth decay, gum disease, or other problems require costly procedures. They also encourage you to go to the dentist regularly since you pay your premiums no matter what.

So, it’s almost always a great idea to purchase dental insurance. That said, shop around for multiple policy quotes to find the best rates and terms on the coverage you need.

[Footnote sources]

¹Forbes. “How Much Does Dental Work Cost?”

²Forbes. “Is Dental Insurance Worth the Expense?”

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