Frequently Asked Questions

PlainDentalCost pulls together state Medicaid agency dental fee schedules, the ADA Health Policy Institute's Survey of Dental Fees (2024) and Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium (2024), the MACPAC Medicaid Coverage of Dental Benefits for Adults compendium, and the BEA Regional Price Parities (state-level cost-of-living index). All five are public datasets. Coverage spans 62 commonly-searched dental procedures across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia.

State Medicaid coverage tier is reviewed quarterly against the latest MACPAC compendium. ADA HPI national averages update annually when the next Survey of Dental Fees edition is released. BEA Regional Price Parities update annually (typically fall). State Medicaid fee schedules are rechecked semi-annually for each state. The current vintage is shown on every page.

Yes. There are no paywalls, account requirements, or subscription fees. All data comes from public government and ADA HPI sources and is presented for cost-transparency purposes.

Per-state Medicaid reimbursement rates come directly from each state's published fee schedule. Per-state private-market estimates use a documented formula (national private average × state RPP / 100) and should be treated as a midpoint, not a quote. Actual fees you see at any specific dentist depend on the practice's pricing, the geographic submarket within the state, and clinical complexity. The methodology page documents every step.

Three drivers explain almost all of the variation: cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parities range from 86.4 in Mississippi to 117.5 in New York — a 36% spread), Medicaid policy (states that reimburse providers more attract more Medicaid-accepting dentists, which expands cash-pay competition too), and provider supply (areas with fewer dentists per capita see higher fees). See our guide on why dental costs vary by state.

Adult Medicaid dental coverage is an optional Medicaid benefit. Roughly 17 jurisdictions cover comprehensive (extensive) adult services, 22 cover limited services (typically preventive + basic restorative), 10 cover only emergencies, and one (Delaware) covers nothing. Pediatric dental coverage is required everywhere under EPSDT. Visit your state page for your specific tier.

CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes are the standardized billing codes — the letter D followed by four digits — used by every dentist, every Medicaid program, and every dental insurance carrier in the United States. Knowing the CDT code for your procedure lets you look up state averages and comparison-shop between practices on equivalent terms. Our guide on CDT D-codes explains the code structure.

No. PlainDentalCost is a data portal — we publish per-state and per-procedure cost statistics, not provider directories or live quotes. For specific dentists, your state Medicaid managed-care directory or the ADA's Find-A-Dentist tool are appropriate. For a written treatment estimate, contact the dentist's billing office directly.

The well-established paths are: Federally Qualified Health Centers (sliding-fee scale based on income), dental school teaching clinics (40-60% off private rates), and dental discount plans ($80-$150/year for ~20-30% off member-dentist fees). Our guide on finding affordable dental care walks through each option in detail.

PlainDentalCost prices procedures, not insurance plans. Dental insurance economics differ materially from medical: most plans cap reimbursement at $1,500-$2,000/year and reimburse "major" procedures (crowns, root canals, implants) at 50% of an "allowed amount". For plan comparisons, see your state's healthcare exchange or your employer's benefits portal.