12 Things Your Dentist is Overcharging You For and You Don’t Even Know It

The American Dental Association completed a dental survey on what keeps people from seeing a dentist. Cost ranks first with 59% of patients stating the price of care impacts whether they see a dentist. How do you know if your dentist is overcharging you?

Some billing departments overcharge dental patients for one reason or another. Don't ignore dental care. Instead, ask questions when you see an unusual dental charge. The following prices for dental costs are pulled from the 2020 American Dental Association's Survey of Dental Fees. Items are in alphabetical order and cover nine regions in the U.S.

• New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
• Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
• South Atlantic: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia
• East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin
• West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
• East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee
• West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas
• Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
• Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington

Now, it's time to look at the 12 things your dentist is overcharging you for. (Did you know that a toothbrush is recyclable? Read more in "21 Common Household Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle.")

If you go to the dentist after hours, even if nothing is done during that visit, you'll pay this expensive dental fee. When possible, it's more affordable to wait until the office opens.

• New England: $184.31
• Middle Atlantic: $161.27
• East North Central: $162.07
• West North Central: $158.21
• South Atlantic: $169.05
• East South Central: $133.45
• West South Central: $159.74
• Mountain: $159.46
• Pacific: $197.68

If you have a tooth that is sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids, your dentist may apply an agent to help ease the sensitivity. This medication may be as simple as a fluoride coating or a tooth-numbing agent that you could purchase and use at home. Purchase a product like Orajel and slash high dentist bills.

• New England: $67.34
• Middle Atlantic: $60.40
• East North Central: $53.19
• West North Central: $49.70
• South Atlantic: $60.46
• East South Central: $48.83
• West South Central: $57.36
• Mountain: $43.73
• Pacific: $66.14

If a child acts up or becomes overly anxious during a visit, expect a charge for behavior management. Instead of average prices being broken down by region, they're usually based on the type of doctor.

• General Practitioner: $127.23
• Pacific: $141.04
• Pediatric Dentist: $107.50

Almost 41 million Americans had dentures in 2020 per Statista. It's expected that 42.46 million have them in 2024. These prices are based on dentures for both the upper jaw (maxillary) and lower jaw (mandibular). It's better to shop around before committing to your dentist's price as 3D printing helps lower costs at practices that specialize in dentures.

• New England: $3,955.64
• Middle Atlantic: $3,506.18
• East North Central: $3,496.73
• West North Central: $3,392.94
• South Atlantic: $3,575.31
• East South Central: $2,933.04
• West South Central: $3,376.33
• Mountain: $3,285.12
• Pacific: $3,818.60

Dentists offer patients take-home bleaching kits. The cost per arch is astounding compared to what a recommended kit like Opalescence Go or Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit costs in a store.

• New England: $257.78
• Middle Atlantic: $280.46
• East North Central: $242.80
• West North Central: $217.07
• South Atlantic: $287.31
• East South Central: $232.34
• West South Central: $208.30
• Mountain: $196.92
• Pacific: $249.74

There's no denying that a custom-made mouthguard is the most comfortable option, but it's one of the items your dentist is overcharging you for. Boil and bite mouthguards cost less than $20 and fit well once shaped and trimmed. Go online and order an impression kit from a company like TruFit Customers. Follow the instructions and mail the imprint back to get a 3D mouthguard for half the price a dentist charges.

• New England: $236.00
• Middle Atlantic: $282.32
• East North Central: $209.49
• West North Central: $169.47
• South Atlantic: $279.21
• East South Central: $221.68
• West South Central: $276.23
• Mountain: $231.83
• Pacific: $257.31

When you get a fluoride treatment, the fluoride gel or foam is placed in a tray that fits into your mouth. Pike Dental Supply sells 100-count packs of gel carrier trays for $48.50 (small) to $54.45 (large). Dental Wholesale Direct sells a 4.4-ounce bottle of fluoride foam for $24.95. A 16-ounce bottle of fluoride gel is the same price.

• New England: $220.32
• Middle Atlantic: N/A
• East North Central: $162.68
• West North Central: $144.75
• South Atlantic: $167.48
• East South Central: $145.52
• West South Central: $173.60
• Mountain: $179.03
• Pacific: $187.90

If you are anxious, your dentist may offer nitrous oxide to help relax you. Insurance doesn't always cover it. The cost is very high as you're billed for every 15 minutes it's used.

• New England: N/A
• Middle Atlantic: $80.56
• East North Central: $66.17
• West North Central: $69.42
• South Atlantic: $87.72
• East South Central: $56.81
• West South Central: $71.17
• Mountain: $64.62
• Pacific: $82.87

Male doctor counseling mature patient in waiting room. Medical professional is listening to ill man while holding digital tablet in hospital. They are sitting on seat.

This overpriced dental fee is charged even if you don't even have anything done. As soon as you sit in a dental chair, this fee is applied to your bill.

• New England: $73.93
• Middle Atlantic: $47.62
• East North Central: $64.34
• West North Central: $63.89
• South Atlantic: $58.92
• East South Central: $47.14
• West South Central: $62.53
• Mountain: $58.48
• Pacific: $80.96

Did your dentist or hygienist tell you how to improve your oral hygiene practices? If so, you'll be billed for those instructions. If you weren't told how to brush or floss, it's not something you should be billed for.

• New England: $34.58
• Middle Atlantic: $26.06
• East North Central: $34.04
• West North Central: $34.03
• South Atlantic: $37.04
• East South Central: $29.52
• West South Central: $30.12
• Mountain: $30.57
• Pacific: $30.86

If you have a toothache that's bothering you. A trip to the dentist can cost a lot of money, especially if it results in the dentist telling you to take an over-the-counter pain medication until you make an appointment.

• New England: $139.25
• Middle Atlantic: $105.89
• East North Central: $130.16
• West North Central: $122.40
• South Atlantic: $126.58
• East South Central: $100.82
• West South Central: $102.84
• Mountain: $130.67
• Pacific: $175.04

After cleaning your teeth, some dentists apply a fluoride varnish in addition to the polishing. Insurance rarely covers the cost of this brush-on product. Use a toothpaste designed to restore enamel to lessen the need for fluoride treatments.

• New England: $49.82
• Middle Atlantic: $45.58
• East North Central: $42.20
• West North Central: $39.41
• South Atlantic: $43.08
• East South Central: $36.50
• West South Central: $40.10
• Mountain: $37.41
• Pacific: $46.13

Did you know that saliva plays a crucial role in oral health? Read "20 Fun Facts About the Human Body" to learn more about the role saliva plays in ridding your teeth and gums of harmful bacteria and the sugars they feed on.