Our current data is sourced from FAIR Health Consumer (fairhealthconsumer.org), a nonprofit with access to billions of insurance claim records. We use their out-of-network (UCR) benchmarks, which represent what dentists actually bill for procedures in each geographic area. We also plan to incorporate user-submitted quote data as the platform grows.
Yes. The core price checker is free forever for patients. We may offer a premium Treatment Plan Analyzer tool for patients with multi-procedure treatment plans in the future, but the single-procedure checker will always be free.
Our benchmark data uses UCR (Usual, Customary, and Reasonable) rates — what dentists in your area typically charge patients who are either uninsured or out-of-network. If you're in-network with insurance, your actual cost will be lower because your plan has negotiated rates.
Percentiles tell you where a price falls relative to other prices in your area. 'P50' means 50th percentile — half of dentists in your area charge less than this, and half charge more. 'P90' means 90th percentile — only 10% of dentists charge more than this. If your quote is above the 90th percentile, you are in the most expensive 10% of quotes for this procedure in your area.
This tool is for education and comparison, not professional advice. Dental pricing varies based on factors like material quality, practice overhead, geographic location, dentist experience, and what's actually included in a quote. Use this as a starting point for an informed conversation with your dentist — not as a final verdict. When in doubt, get a second opinion.
We're actively expanding our geographic coverage. If your ZIP isn't in our database yet, try a nearby ZIP code in the same city. You can also use FAIR Health Consumer directly at fairhealthconsumer.org for any ZIP code.
No. Our data reflects private-pay and commercial insurance rates. Medicaid reimbursement rates are set by each state and are typically significantly lower than the benchmarks shown here. Medicare generally does not cover dental procedures.
Specialists (endodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists, orthodontists) typically charge differently from general dentists. Our current data reflects general dentist fees. Specialist pricing will be added in a future update.
We update our benchmark data quarterly. Dental fees generally move slowly year-to-year, but regional variation can be significant. Each data point includes a 'last updated' date.
Not necessarily — but it's worth asking questions. A quote below the 50th percentile could reflect a newer practice building its patient base, a promotional rate, a lower-cost material, or simply an efficient practice. Ask specifically what material and lab are being used, and what is and isn't included in the price.