How much should a filling cost?
It’s a question I hear often as a Danforth dentist at Dental Care Group. A very good question … so I’ll be sure to answer it as best as I can in this blog.
It’s impossible to estimate or quote accurately without seeing you first. But I’ll break down the variables that impact the cost of your treatment.
- Your tooth. Each tooth in your mouth has five surfaces – the top and four sides. So the first thing to consider is how many of those surfaces need to be fixed or filled.
- Location matters. Not all teeth are created equal. Some are in the front of the mouth and others in the back. The ones in the back are bigger and often more difficult to fill. So the second variable is which tooth needs to be filled.
- Dental materials. Most patients who visit us, your Danforth dentist, desire white (or composite) fillings instead of silver amalgam (mercury) fillings. It’s no surprise … they blend in beautifully with your smile. This is especially important to patients if the filling needs to be done on a front tooth. Although rarely used today, gold is a shinier, more expensive option.
- Additional services. As your dentist, we need a current x-ray of the tooth in question. If this is your first visit to our practice, there will be a consultation fee. Instead of posting a bunch of charts, I’ll give you a better idea with a quick example … the highest cost (when the material isn’t gold) could be $501, based on the 2019 Ontario Dental Association’s General Dentist Fee Guide. In most cases, you’re looking at closer to half the cost.
Want an accurate estimate? Call our friendly team for a consultation and x-ray. The cost is probably less than you think!
Dr. Chris Binert graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, 1983 with honors. She has been a member of the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association since her graduation.
Dr. Binert is currently an instructor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, and has taught there for over 25 years. She is currently the Director of the Dental Care Group.