How Much Should White Fillings Cost?

Question: Will my dental insurance cover the cost of white fillings?

Answer: If you need a filling, your dental insurance should pay you benefits toward the cost of the filling, whether it is white or is an amalgam filling (often called a silver filling). However, don't expect the insurance to "cover" the cost. You're best off thinking of them as a help in paying for your dental work. You need to understand that the dental insurance company is not responsible for looking out for your best interests. They want to provide a very basic level of benefit so that they don't have to charge your employer a lot for your coverage. Otherwise they may lose their contract with your employer.

White fillings generally cost considerably more than amalgam. Not only are the filling materials more expensive, but the technique for placing them is much more demanding, it requires special training, very careful technique, and much more time to place if they're done right. Insurance companies generally try to influence you to choose the least expensive treatment, not the best treatment.

Expect to pay $150 to $500 for a white filling, depending mostly on how large it is. Costs also vary from dentist to dentist. This cost information is based on an actual survey of expert cosmetic dentists from coast to coast in the United States, taken in December 2005.