Methodology & Data Sources

Last updated: June 18, 2026

Overview

Every cost figure on PlainDentalCost is derived from one of three public datasets, with a transparent formula linking the source data to what appears on the page. This page documents each source, the formulas, the limitations of the approach, and how often we refresh.

Data sources

1. State Medicaid dental fee schedules

Each state Medicaid agency publishes a dental fee schedule listing the reimbursement rate paid to dentists for each CDT procedure code under that state's adult Medicaid program (when the state covers adult dental services). These schedules are public — they are referenced by Medicaid-participating dentists, by managed-care organizations, and by health policy researchers. We use the most recent published schedule for each state, current as of 2026 Q1. When a state does not cover a CDT code under adult Medicaid, our table shows "Not covered" rather than zero or a placeholder.

2. ADA Health Policy Institute — Survey of Dental Fees (2024)

The American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute conducts a periodic national survey of practicing dentists' fees, with results published as the Survey of Dental Fees. The survey captures the 50th percentile (median) and other percentile values for each major CDT code across the respondent universe. We use the median (population-weighted national average) figures from the most recent published edition (2024) as the national private-market baseline. Source: ADA Health Policy Institute.

3. ADA Health Policy Institute — Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium (2024)

The HPI also publishes a separate Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium that compares state Medicaid fee schedules side by side. We use this compendium to cross-check our per-state Medicaid figures against a peer-reviewed national source and to derive the national-average Medicaid figures shown on the per-procedure pages.

4. MACPAC — Medicaid Coverage of Dental Benefits for Adults

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) publishes a periodic compendium that categorizes each state's adult Medicaid dental coverage scope into four tiers: extensive (comprehensive), limited (typically preventive plus basic restorative, often subject to an annual dollar cap), emergency only (extractions for acute pain), and none (no adult dental benefit). The coverage tier shown on each PlainDentalCost state page reflects this categorization, current as of 2026. Source: MACPAC.

5. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities, by State

BEA publishes annual Regional Price Parities (RPPs) at the state level. RPPs measure differences in the price levels of goods and services across states relative to the overall national level (US average = 100). We use the most recent annual release as the cost-of-living adjustment factor for state-level private-market estimates. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities.

Formulas

State private-market estimate

For each procedure-and-state combination: 

state_private_estimate(d_code, state) =
    national_private_avg(d_code)  /* ADA HPI 2024 */
  × state_rpp(state) / 100         /* BEA Regional Price Parity */

Worked example for a porcelain crown (CDT D2740) in Mississippi: national average = $1,338, Mississippi RPP = 86.4 ÷ 100 = 0.864, state estimate = $1,338 × 0.864 ≈ $1,156. Same procedure in New York: national average = $1,338, New York RPP = 117.5 ÷ 100 = 1.175, state estimate = $1,338 × 1.175 ≈ $1,572.

State Medicaid reimbursement

For states that cover the procedure under their adult Medicaid program (per MACPAC categorization): 

state_medicaid_fee(d_code, state) =
    national_medicaid_avg(d_code)  /* ADA HPI Medicaid Compendium 2024 */
  × state_medicaid_multiplier(state)

The state-level Medicaid multiplier is derived from the ADA HPI cross-state Medicaid comparison: states that publish complete dental fee schedules and report a representative basket of CDT codes are mapped to a single state-level multiplier (e.g., Arkansas = 0.73, New York = 1.51) that captures their position relative to the national-average reimbursement curve. For "limited" coverage states, the multiplier is applied only to procedures the state covers (typically diagnostic, preventive, basic restorative, simple extractions, palliative care, and nitrous-oxide sedation); other categories show "Not covered".

National averages

On the per-procedure pages, "National average" figures are computed at runtime as the simple mean across all 51 jurisdictions (50 states + DC) — for the private-market estimate, all 51 are included; for Medicaid reimbursement, only states that cover the procedure for adults are included. Min/max columns show the extremes within the same denominator.

Limitations

Be aware of these constraints when using PlainDentalCost cost figures:

  • State-level RPP, not metro-level. Within a state, urban downtowns typically run 10–25% above the state RPP and rural areas 10–15% below. Our private estimates are the state midpoint, not the price you will see at any specific dentist.
  • Specialty premium not modeled. Specialists (oral surgeons, prosthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, orthodontists) typically charge 15–40% above the general-dentist rate for procedures within their specialty. The ADA HPI national figures are general-dentist averages; specialty work prices higher in practice.
  • Insurance discounts not modeled. Privately-insured patients generally pay an in-network negotiated rate that is materially below the "private estimate" shown here. Out-of-network and uninsured patients face the full rate.
  • Coverage is a snapshot. State Medicaid programs add and remove adult dental benefits from time to time. We track major changes (e.g., Maryland 2023 expansion, NH April 2025 restoration) but small policy adjustments may lag our update cycle by a few months.
  • The cost methodology aggregates all complexity levels. The ADA HPI national averages are means across the full distribution of clinical presentations for each CDT code; an unusually complex case will price higher, a routine case lower.
  • Not all 50 states publish CSV/Excel fee schedules. A small number of states publish only PDF schedules with limited line-item detail; for these, our state-level Medicaid multiplier is the best available estimate but cannot be cross-checked at every CDT code. State pages note where this applies.

What we do NOT include

  • The CDT manual itself. CDT (Current Dental Terminology) is a copyrighted code set of the American Dental Association. We reference CDT code numbers and provide brief plain-language descriptions of what each code covers, which is a fair use; we do not republish the official CDT manual or its full clinical descriptions.
  • Individual dentist fees or directories. PlainDentalCost does not list specific clinics or dentists, does not rank named providers, and does not publish individual fee transparency data. For provider-level pricing, see your state's hospital and dental price-transparency disclosures and any negotiated-rate files published under federal price transparency rules.
  • Pediatric dentistry coverage details. All Medicaid programs are required to cover pediatric dental services through EPSDT. PlainDentalCost focuses on the highly-variable adult coverage scope; pediatric coverage is comprehensive everywhere by federal mandate.
  • Dental insurance plan comparisons. PlainDentalCost prices procedures, not plans. For plan comparisons, see your state's healthcare exchange or your employer's benefits portal.

Update schedule

  • State Medicaid coverage tier: reviewed quarterly against the latest MACPAC compendium plus state-specific announcements.
  • ADA HPI national averages: updated annually when the next Survey of Dental Fees edition is released.
  • BEA RPPs: updated annually when BEA publishes the next state-level RPP release (typically fall).
  • State Medicaid fee schedules: rechecked semi-annually for each state and updated whenever a state publishes a revised schedule.

Disclaimer

PlainDentalCost is a data portal that organizes dental procedure cost information from public sources. The cost figures on this site are estimates, not quotes. Actual fees you pay will depend on the specific dentist you choose, the geographic submarket within your state, the clinical complexity of your case, your insurance status, and the negotiated rate (if any) between your insurance carrier and your provider. Always request a written treatment estimate from your dentist before treatment. PlainDentalCost does not provide medical, dental, financial, legal, or insurance advice.