If you don’t have dental insurance, the question isn’t whether you can afford a dentist. It’s what the first visit costs, and what happens if that visit finds something. Here are our actual numbers, what’s included, and how we handle the bigger stuff.
The first visit: $57 or $25
$57 new patient cleaning. This is the visit for someone who hasn’t been in a while and wants a clean slate. It includes a full exam by the dentist, bitewing x-rays, a professional cleaning by the hygienist, and a written treatment plan if anything needs attention. The same visit billed at regular fees is $222. There’s no catch and no time limit on the offer; it’s our everyday new patient price at all 30 offices.
$25 look-and-see. This is for a specific problem: a tooth that hurts, a chip, a filling that fell out. You get an exam focused on that area, x-rays of the problem tooth, and a treatment plan with a price for the fix. Regular fee is $104. If you decide to have the work done, you’ll know the cost before anything starts.
Both offers are on our specials page and available at every office. Call or book online and mention the special.
What the treatment plan tells you
Every treatment plan we hand you lists each recommended procedure with its fee, so you can see the total and decide what to do first. Nothing on it is a commitment. Patients often take the plan home, think about it, and book the urgent item first. A good rule: anything that’s causing pain or will clearly get worse (an active cavity, a cracked tooth, an infected tooth) is worth doing now, because it gets more expensive the longer it waits. A filling is a fraction of the cost of the root canal and crown the same tooth needs a year later.
What affects the price of dental work
People ask why a crown at one office costs more than at another, or why two fillings on the same day cost different amounts. The honest answers:
The tooth and the size of the problem. A one-surface filling on a front tooth is simpler than a three-surface filling on a molar. A root canal on a molar has more canals than one on a front tooth, and takes longer.
The material. Tooth-colored composite fillings, porcelain crowns, and the type of denture all have different lab and material costs.
Where you are. Our fees are set to be affordable in the communities we serve, from Springfield to Stamford to Hackensack. Your treatment plan shows the fee for your office.
Paying for larger treatment
When a plan runs into the hundreds or thousands, we offer monthly payment options so the work can start now. We accept CareCredit, which offers short-term plans of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months as well as longer-term financing, and our front desk can help you apply and pick the option that fits your budget. Braces and Invisalign, at the offices with an orthodontist, start at $137 a month. Details on the payments page. We also take cash, checks and major credit cards, and you can pay your bill online.
Is insurance worth buying?
Sometimes. Individual dental plans typically cost $20 to $50 a month, cover preventive visits in full, and pay a percentage of other work up to a yearly maximum of around $1,000 to $1,500, often with a waiting period of six to twelve months for major services. If you need a crown this month, a new plan won’t help with it. If you want a predictable budget for a family’s checkups and the occasional filling, it can make sense. If you qualify for MassHealth in Massachusetts or HUSKY in Connecticut, that’s the better option, and we accept both at every office in those states. See our insurance pages for Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey.
Common questions
How much is a teeth cleaning without insurance?
At Dr. Dental, a new patient cleaning with exam and x-rays is $57. The regular fee for the same visit is $222.
How much does it cost to see a dentist for a toothache without insurance?
$25 for the exam and x-rays of the problem tooth, with a written price for any treatment before it starts.
Can I pay for dental work in installments?
Yes. We offer monthly payment plans for larger treatment, including braces from $137 a month at offices with an orthodontist.
Do you offer emergency appointments without insurance?
Yes. Call the office nearest you. Same-day emergency visits are available at all 30 offices, and the $25 look-and-see covers the exam and x-rays.
Not sure what you need? Book the $25 visit, get the plan, and decide from there. Call the office nearest you or request an appointment online.
