How Much Do Cavities Cost to Fill?
How much do cavities cost to fill? Well, that depends on the size and where the cavity is located in the mouth. A cavity is damage to the tooth’s surface from tooth decay creating a hole.
This article will answer the question “how much do cavities cost” and give a detailed explanation. Additionally, you can learn more about the symptoms of cavities in our article, The Signs of Cavities.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Cavities Cost to Fill: Understanding the Causes
Around 90% of adults have had at least one cavity in their life. There are several reasons why cavities appear:
- Diet: Bacteria in the mouth consume sugar and produce acid. A high-sugar diet leads to more active bacteria and a higher risk of cavities.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Daily brushing and flossing are important to mechanically remove food, plaque, and bacteria that work together to cause cavities.
- Dry Mouth: Having decreased saliva flow increases bacteria’s activity. Saliva contains minerals that help neutralize bacteria and stabilize tooth and gum health.
More information on the causes of cavities is in our Common Causes of Cavities article.
How Much Do Cavities Cost: The Treatment
When wondering how much do cavities cost to fill, it’s important to understand how they’re fixed at the dentist. There are several steps needed in order to fully restore the tooth’s health.
How much do cavities cost to fill will depend on what needs to happen during the treatment. There are the steps taken during an appointment to fill a cavity:
- Diagnosis: Your dental professional will take a series of x-rays to see the extent of the cavity. If the decay is large and near the tooth’s nerve, your dentist may do some testing to make sure the tooth is viable. This will determine how much do cavities cost to fill.
- Numbing the Tooth: To make sure there is no sensitivity when working, the dentist or dental hygienist will use local anesthesia to numb the tooth’s nerves.
- Removing Decay: The dentist will remove any infected area in the tooth with several instruments.
- Restoring the Tooth: After selecting what material is best, your dentist and dental assistant will use a series of steps to return the tooth to its optimal function.
How Much Do Cavities Cost to Fill?
How much do cavities cost to fill? This heavily depends on the size and area of the cavity. A tooth is divided into 5 surfaces. Smaller cavities can be restored with a simple dental filling. Larger cavities will need a dental crown in order to return to their full shape and function.
Here is a list of all the treatments and way to fix a cavity, along with the answers to how much does it cost to fill a cavity:
Dental Fillings
A dental filling is a simple way to restore a tooth’s structure that isn’t too compromised. The price range depends on how many surfaces are infected and what material is used.
- Composite Resin: This tooth-colored dental filling can range from $90-$475.
- Silver Amalgam: This metallic material is less common and can range from $50-$300.
- Gold Filling: Also less commonly used, this dental filling can range from $275-$2,000.
- Porcelain Filling: A porcelain inlay/onlay is a custom-fabricated filling and can range from $350-$4,000.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used when a cavity is too large to be restored by a dental filling. How much do cavities cost to fill with a dental crown? That will depend on what material is used.
- Porcelain Fused to Metal Crown: This tooth-colored crown’s price can range from $800-$1,400.
- Ceramic Crown: This porcelain material crown can range from $800-$3,000.
- All-Resin Crown: This less durable tooth-colored crown’s price ranges from $600-$1,300.
- Stainless Steel Crown: This material crown usually costs less, ranging from $300-$500.
- Gold Crowns: This fabricated crown is very strong and can range from $800-$2,500.
Extractions
If a cavity takes over most of the structural surfaces of the tooth and/or reaches the nerve of the tooth, it may no longer be viable. In this case, an extraction is needed. The average cost of a simple tooth extraction is $75-$300.
There are several ways to replace a missing tooth. For different options and prices for replacing a tooth after an extraction, check out our article Average Tooth Replacement Cost.
Recommendations on How Much Does it Cost to Fill A Cavity
The truth is that until you visit your dentist, you won’t really be able to answer the question ‘how much does it cost to fill a cavity?’ This is because the cost to fill a cavity will depend greatly on a number of different factors.
Your dentist will need to diagnose the extent and seriousness of the cavity before they can answer how much do cavities cost to fill. Once they perform the proper tests, you will have a much clearer answer.
Due to these reasons, it’s very important that you see your dentist as soon as possible if you think you might have a cavity.
Preventing a Cavity Bill
How much do cavities cost to fill? The best way to avoid stressing about this question in the future is prevention. Cavities are 100% preventable with a strong oral hygiene routine and preventable services by your dentist and dental hygienist.
For tips on creating the best oral hygiene routine for you, check out our Healthy Smile Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cavities go away?
Cavities will not go away by themselves. If the cavity is in the beginning stages of development, there is a chance to remineralize and stop the decay process. For more information on how to reverse cavities, check out our Can You Reverse Cavities? article.
Why am I suddenly getting cavities?
Cavities are caused by the bacteria in your mouth. If you all of a sudden have several cavities, evaluate any changes in your lifestyle. Any diet changes? New medications, vitamins, or supplements? Do you have a dry mouth? For more common causes of cavities, click here.
Take Home Smile Store
Visit our Take Home Smile store for educational brochures and other fun printables to help with oral hygiene. All products can be customized to fit your dental needs.
