Composite Resin
Composite fillings are tooth-colored and can be used on front or back teeth. They are popular when appearance matters and are commonly used for small- to mid-size restorations.
Estimate the possible cost of composite tooth-colored fillings, silver amalgam fillings, glass ionomer restorations, gold or porcelain inlays/onlays, or a filling quote from your own dentist. Add the number of fillings, optional extra fees, insurance assumptions and a payment period to create a clearer dental budget.
Choose the filling material that best matches your treatment plan, enter the number of fillings and your insurance assumptions, then calculate a simple estimated patient budget.
Estimate tooth-colored composite filling costs using a published U.S. planning range, then adjust for your insurance assumptions.
Enter the number of teeth being filled
Optional exam, X-ray or other quoted fees
Leave blank if you do not want to cap the estimate
Estimate silver-colored amalgam filling costs and model a simplified possible insurance benefit.
Use the published U.S. price range as a planning reference for glass ionomer restorations.
Select an indirect filling reference or enter the exact per-tooth fee from your own dentist.
Used only when “custom” is selected
This figure shows the basic clinical sequence behind a cavity filling and the financial steps used by the calculator to turn a per-tooth planning figure into an estimated patient budget.
A dentist removes decayed tooth structure and places a restorative material into the prepared area.
Important: the calculator is a budgeting model, not a diagnosis, dental fee schedule or insurance guarantee. Actual fees depend on the tooth, cavity size, surfaces restored, material, provider and local market.
A useful Dental Filling Cost Calculator should separate the price of the restoration itself from the financial details that can change what you actually pay. A cavity filling may be billed according to the tooth involved, the number of surfaces restored, the filling material, the dentist's fee and the insurer's allowed amount. Additional services such as an examination, X-rays or other treatment can appear as separate charges.
This calculator starts with published U.S. per-tooth filling cost references and lets you multiply them by the number of planned fillings. It then adds any extra quoted fees you enter and models a simplified insurance benefit using your selected coverage percentage, deductible and remaining annual maximum. Replace the planning presets with your dentist's written fee whenever you have one.
There is no single national fee that applies to every cavity. Published U.S. cost data show a wide range because materials and clinical situations differ. CareCredit's dental filling cost guide reports a national average of about $226 for a composite filling and $139 for an amalgam filling, while gold and porcelain indirect restorations can cost substantially more. The figures below are planning references, not guaranteed prices.
| Filling Material | Published U.S. Planning Figure | Important Cost Note |
|---|---|---|
| Composite resin | Average about $226; reported range $173–$439 | Tooth-colored material; price can vary with tooth, cavity size and location. |
| Silver amalgam | Average about $139; reported range $108–$256 | Often less expensive than tooth-colored composite in published comparisons. |
| Glass ionomer | Reported range $116–$285 | The calculator uses the midpoint only as a planning value because the source reports a range rather than a national average. |
| Gold inlay/onlay | Average about $466; reported range $361–$817 | Indirect restorations may involve laboratory work and more than one visit. |
| Porcelain ceramic inlay/onlay | Average about $976; reported range $755–$1,774 | Generally the highest published range among the materials used in this calculator. |
These figures come from CareCredit's dental filling pricing guide, which notes that actual costs vary with geography, provider and other factors. Your dentist's treatment plan is the more relevant number once a specific tooth has been examined.
The material is one of the most visible differences between filling estimates. The American Dental Association explains that material selection is individualized and can depend on the cavity's size and location, appearance preferences, durability, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket cost.
Composite fillings are tooth-colored and can be used on front or back teeth. They are popular when appearance matters and are commonly used for small- to mid-size restorations.
Amalgam is a silver-colored metal mixture known for durability. It can be useful where strong chewing forces or moisture control make other materials more difficult.
Glass ionomer is a tooth-colored restorative option and is commonly discussed for particular cavity locations and clinical situations rather than as a universal substitute for every filling.
Gold inlays and onlays are durable indirect restorations, but published cost references are higher than typical direct fillings and laboratory fabrication may be involved.
Porcelain restorations can provide a tooth-colored result and may be fabricated outside the mouth. Their cost range is typically higher than composite or amalgam fillings.
If you already have an itemized proposal, use your actual per-tooth fee in the custom calculator instead of relying on a national planning preset.
For material descriptions and patient decision factors, see the ADA's Dental Filling Options guide.
Two cavities treated with the same material can still have different fees. A Dental Filling Cost Calculator is most helpful when you understand the variables behind the dentist's number rather than treating a national average as a fixed price.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that a filling is used to treat a cavity, which is a small hole in a tooth. The dentist removes decayed tooth tissue and fills the space with a restorative material. Early decay may sometimes be stopped or reversed before a cavity forms, but once a hole is present, a filling is a common treatment.
The dentist examines the tooth and may use X-rays or other findings to determine the extent of decay.
Damaged tooth tissue is removed and the tooth is prepared for the selected restorative material.
The material is placed, shaped and hardened or otherwise fabricated according to the restoration type.
The restoration is adjusted and polished so the tooth can function comfortably with the surrounding bite.
Read the NIDCR overview of dental fillings and cavity treatment for a patient-focused explanation of decay and restoration.
Dental benefit plans often help pay for restorative treatment, but the amount is plan-specific. The percentage shown on a benefit summary does not always equal the same percentage of the dentist's full fee. Plans can use their own allowed amounts, deductibles, annual maximums, network rules and material limitations.
The American Dental Association also notes that some plans may reimburse a posterior tooth-colored composite restoration only up to the amount they would have allowed for an amalgam restoration. That can leave a larger patient balance even when the procedure itself is covered.
This calculator assumes the entered treatment total is eligible, subtracts the remaining deductible, applies your selected coverage percentage and caps the modeled benefit at the remaining annual maximum when you enter one. Real claims can use different allowed fees, alternate benefits, exclusions or coordination-of-benefits rules.
For plan limitations and annual maximum concepts, see the ADA overview of typical dental plan benefits and limitations.
Composite and amalgam are both direct filling materials, but they differ in appearance, handling, price and some insurance rules. The right choice depends on the individual tooth and patient—not just the cheaper headline number.
| Comparison | Composite Filling | Amalgam Filling |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Tooth-colored and designed to blend with natural teeth. | Silver-colored and more visible. |
| Published Cost Reference | About $226 average; $173–$439 reported range. | About $139 average; $108–$256 reported range. |
| Placement | Requires a clean, dry field for bonding. | Can be useful where moisture control is more difficult. |
| Insurance | Some plans may limit benefits to an amalgam-equivalent allowance on certain teeth. | Often used as the lower-cost reference in alternate-benefit plan designs. |
| Best Choice | A dentist should recommend the material based on the tooth, cavity, bite, health considerations and patient preferences. | |
Amalgam safety note: the FDA recommends that certain higher-risk groups avoid new dental amalgam when possible and appropriate, and it does not recommend removing intact amalgam fillings solely to prevent disease unless removal is medically necessary. Discuss your health history and filling options with your dentist.
See the FDA's dental amalgam information for current patient guidance.
A filling restores tooth structure after decay or damage is removed, but it is not the correct solution for every tooth. More extensive damage can require a different restoration or treatment plan. NIDCR notes that crowns are used to repair badly broken-down teeth, and a dentist may recommend other treatment when decay reaches deeper structures or when the tooth cannot be predictably restored with a direct filling.
Common for a cavity when enough healthy tooth remains to support a direct restoration.
May be considered when the tooth is heavily weakened, fractured, extensively restored or otherwise unsuitable for a simple filling.
Do not choose treatment from price alone: a lower-cost filling is not a substitute for a crown, root canal, extraction or other treatment when the clinical condition requires something different.
Dental fillings do not necessarily last for life. NIDCR states that fillings and crowns may eventually need replacement. Wear, recurrent decay, fracture, leakage, bite forces and the amount of remaining tooth structure can all influence how long a restoration remains serviceable.
When an old filling is replaced, the dentist must first determine why it is failing and how much healthy tooth remains. A new filling may be appropriate, but a larger restoration or crown may sometimes be recommended if the tooth has weakened. That is why a replacement filling estimate should be based on a current examination rather than simply assuming the old treatment will be repeated exactly.
Choose composite, amalgam, glass ionomer, gold/porcelain or the custom-quote option.
Add the number of teeth being restored and any other quoted fees you want included.
Enter the coverage percentage, deductible and remaining annual maximum from your plan information.
Compare the estimated treatment total, possible plan benefit, patient responsibility and monthly planning figure.
Best practice: once you receive a written estimate from your dentist, use the custom option. A provider-specific fee is more useful for budgeting than any national average.
The calculator is a planning model rather than a real-time dental fee database. The composite, amalgam, gold and porcelain presets use the averages and ranges reported in CareCredit's U.S. dental filling cost guide. Glass ionomer uses the midpoint of its published $116–$285 range only for the calculator's center estimate because that source reports a range rather than a national average. Custom quotes bypass the preset and use the fee you enter.
| Source | Used For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| CareCredit Dental Filling Cost Guide | Published U.S. filling cost averages and ranges. | Fees vary by geography, provider, tooth and clinical details. |
| NIDCR Dental Fillings | Definition of fillings, cavity treatment and replacement context. | Clinical education, not a fee schedule. |
| ADA MouthHealthy Filling Options | Filling materials and patient decision factors. | Material guidance, not a local treatment quote. |
| American Dental Association | Annual maximums, allowed-fee concepts and plan limitations. | Your actual dental benefits contract controls payment. |
| FDA Dental Amalgam Information | Amalgam composition, benefits, risks and higher-risk-group guidance. | Safety information, not a filling cost source. |
The simplified insurance formula used by the calculator is: treatment total minus the remaining deductible, multiplied by the selected coverage percentage, then capped at the annual maximum remaining if one is entered. This is only a planning convention. Real claims may use contracted allowed fees, alternate benefits, exclusions and other rules that this calculator cannot know.
Common questions about cavity filling prices, materials, dental insurance and using this estimate responsibly.
It is designed for budgeting, not quoting. It becomes more useful when you use the exact number of fillings, your dentist's quoted fees and your current insurance information. Final cost can still differ because claim processing and clinical treatment can change.
The published U.S. reference used here reports an average of about $226 and a range of $173 to $439 per composite filling. Your local fee may be outside that range.
The published U.S. reference used here reports an average of about $139 and a range of $108 to $256 per amalgam filling.
Published national references generally show composite tooth-colored fillings costing more than amalgam fillings. The actual difference depends on the dentist and insurance plan.
Many plans provide a benefit for composite fillings, but some may apply an alternate benefit based on a lower-cost material for certain teeth. Check the plan's benefit booklet or ask the insurer how the specific tooth and surfaces will be reimbursed.
Many dental plans limit how much they will reimburse during a plan year. Entering the remaining maximum prevents the simplified modeled benefit from exceeding the amount you say is still available.
No. It only divides the estimated patient responsibility by the number of months selected. Any financing APR, promotional terms, fees or credit requirements must be evaluated separately.
Yes. Enter the number of fillings being planned. The calculator multiplies the selected material's per-tooth planning amount by that quantity and adds any extra quoted fees you enter.
Yes. A dentist may recommend a crown or another treatment if too much tooth structure has been damaged or the tooth cannot be predictably restored with a direct filling.
The FDA does not recommend removing intact amalgam fillings in good condition solely to prevent disease unless removal is medically necessary. Discuss concerns and your individual health history with a dentist or health professional.
No. Dental restorations can wear, fracture or develop recurrent decay and may eventually need repair or replacement.
You can use the custom-quote option with local fees, but the built-in material presets are based on U.S. cost references and U.S. dollars.
No. It is educational information and a budgeting tool. A licensed dental professional who examines your tooth must diagnose the problem and recommend the appropriate treatment and material.
Choose your filling material, enter the number of restorations and use your real insurance details or dentist quote to create a more useful out-of-pocket budget.
Open Dental Filling Calculator