PlainDentalCost
State-by-state dental procedure costs from public Medicaid fee schedules
About This Data
PlainDentalCost pulls together 62 commonly-searched dental procedures across 51 US jurisdictions and tells you, in dollar terms, what each one is likely to cost. State Medicaid reimbursement rates come from each state's published dental fee schedule (with national averages cross-checked against the ADA Health Policy Institute Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium). Private-market estimates start from the ADA HPI national Survey of Dental Fees and are adjusted to each state using the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. The result is a transparent, citation-backed view of dental procedure prices across the country.
The dataset captures the gap that matters most to consumers: roughly 40 of 51 jurisdictions cover at least limited adult dental services through Medicaid; the remaining 11 only cover emergencies for adults — meaning a working adult in those states pays the full private rate out of pocket. Costs vary by ~25% between the cheapest and most expensive states for the same procedure purely on cost-of-living grounds, before any insurance discount. We do not invent numbers and we do not extrapolate beyond what each source says — when data is missing, the table cell shows "Data not available" rather than a guess.
Top procedures by national private-market average
Mean private-market cost across all 51 jurisdictions. Click any procedure for state-by-state breakdown.
| Procedure | CDT Code | Avg. private cost |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adult | D8090 | $6,372 |
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adolescent | D8080 | $5,944 |
| Surgical Placement of Implant Body | D6010 | $2,312 |
| Mandibular Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5214 | $2,065 |
| Maxillary Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5213 | $2,065 |
States with adult Medicaid dental coverage
40 of 51 jurisdictions cover at least limited adult dental services.
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky…
See all states →States without adult coverage (emergency only)
11 jurisdictions cover only emergency dental services for adults.
Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas
How to find affordable care →Browse by category
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PlainDentalCost?
PlainDentalCost is an independent data portal that organizes dental procedure cost information published by state Medicaid agencies, the ADA Health Policy Institute, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. We cover 62 commonly-searched dental procedures (CDT D-codes) across all 50 US states plus the District of Columbia. Every cost figure on this site links back to a public, citable source.
Where do these dental cost numbers come from?
Two main sources. (1) Medicaid reimbursement rates come from each state's published dental fee schedule, with national averages from the ADA Health Policy Institute's Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium. (2) Private market estimates use the ADA HPI Survey of Dental Fees as a national baseline, scaled to each state by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (RPP). The methodology page walks through each step and lists every source URL.
Why do dental costs vary so much from state to state?
Three main drivers. (1) State Medicaid programs set their own reimbursement rates — Arkansas pays roughly 0.73x the national Medicaid average for a routine cleaning while New York pays 1.51x. (2) Cost of living, captured by BEA Regional Price Parities, ranges from 86.4 in Mississippi to 117.5 in New York — that swing alone moves a $1,338 porcelain crown from $1,156 to $1,572. (3) Adult Medicaid coverage scope varies wildly: 40 states cover comprehensive or limited adult dental services; the remaining 11 only cover emergencies for adults.
Is this data free to use?
Yes. All data is sourced from public government datasets and the ADA Health Policy Institute's freely-distributed compendiums. There are no paywalls or account requirements. We cite every figure so you can verify and use it confidently. Note: CDT procedure codes are an ADA-copyrighted code set; we use them factually (code numbers + brief descriptions of what each procedure covers) which is a fair use, and we do not republish the CDT manual.
How current is the data?
Cost figures use 2024 ADA HPI compendium baselines (the most recent annual release). Per-state Medicaid coverage policy reflects 2026 Q1 (the MACPAC compendium plus state-specific updates). Whenever a state restores or removes adult dental coverage we will update the affected state pages. The data vintage shown on each page is the official source vintage, not a "last refreshed" placeholder.
Sources:
- State Medicaid dental fee schedules (per state Medicaid agency, current 2026 Q1).
- American Dental Association — Health Policy Institute, Survey of Dental Fees (2024).
- American Dental Association — Health Policy Institute, Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium (2024).
- MACPAC — Medicaid Coverage of Dental Benefits for Adults compendium.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities, by State (most recent annual release).
CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes are a copyrighted code set of the American Dental Association. PlainDentalCost references CDT codes factually for the purpose of cost transparency, which is a fair use; this site does not republish the CDT manual.