2026 data Public-data reference. official source

Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior

Open-data reference.

CDT D2391 Restorative · typical chair time: 35 min

About resin-based composite - one surface, posterior

What it is: Single-surface white filling, back tooth The American Dental Association assigns this procedure CDT code D2391, which is the standardized billing code used by every Medicaid program and dental insurance carrier in the United States.

What it costs: The national private-market average is $234 based on the ADA Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Fees (2024). State variation pushes this between $$207 (lowest cost-of-living states) and $$281 (highest). State Medicaid programs that cover resin-based composite - one surface, posterior for adults reimburse an average of $108 (range $72–$170 across covering states).

Why state matters: Two factors drive the spread. First, state Medicaid programs negotiate their own dental fee schedules — high-paying states pay roughly 1.5x what low-paying states pay for the identical CDT code. Second, the private market follows local cost of living, captured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. The full state-by-state table is below.

$234
National avg. private cost
$108
Avg. Medicaid reimbursement
(across covering states)
40/51
States covering this procedure
36%
Max state spread (private)

Top 10 states: Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior private cost vs national average

New York$281District of Columbia$278California$271Hawaii$271New Jersey$271Massachusetts$265Maryland$264Washington$262Connecticut$261Alaska$253
Top 10 states: Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior private cost vs national average

Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior cost by state

State Medicaid fee Private estimate Adult coverage
Alabama Not covered $207 emergency
Alaska $170 $253 extensive
Arizona Not covered $231 emergency
Arkansas $77 $210 limited
California $124 $271 extensive
Colorado $99 $245 limited
Connecticut $139 $261 extensive
Delaware Not covered $240 none
District of Columbia $152 $278 extensive
Florida Not covered $238 emergency
Georgia Not covered $221 emergency
Hawaii $142 $271 limited
Idaho $82 $224 limited
Illinois $90 $239 extensive
Indiana $77 $217 limited
Iowa $113 $216 extensive
Kansas Not covered $217 emergency
Kentucky $85 $213 limited
Louisiana $83 $218 limited
Maine $97 $238 limited
Maryland $123 $264 extensive
Massachusetts $134 $265 extensive
Michigan $99 $227 extensive
Minnesota $149 $240 extensive
Mississippi Not covered $207 emergency
Missouri $78 $218 limited
Montana $102 $225 limited
Nebraska $96 $219 limited
Nevada $90 $238 limited
New Hampshire $107 $251 extensive
New Jersey $124 $271 extensive
New Mexico $88 $221 limited
New York $159 $281 extensive
North Carolina $92 $222 limited
North Dakota $139 $220 extensive
Ohio $83 $218 limited
Oklahoma Not covered $214 emergency
Oregon $123 $245 extensive
Pennsylvania $78 $234 limited
Rhode Island $109 $240 extensive
South Carolina $75 $219 limited
South Dakota Not covered $212 emergency
Tennessee Not covered $216 emergency
Texas Not covered $231 emergency
Utah $88 $231 limited
Vermont $122 $239 extensive
Virginia $113 $244 extensive
Washington $127 $262 extensive
West Virginia $72 $210 limited
Wisconsin $102 $229 limited
Wyoming $113 $228 limited

Analysis: how to think about resin-based composite - one surface, posterior costs

The roughly 36% spread between the lowest- and highest-cost states for resin-based composite - one surface, posterior comes almost entirely from cost of living, not from differences in clinical complexity. A dentist's fee for a D2391 procedure in Mississippi (BEA RPP 86.4) versus New York (BEA RPP 117.5) tracks the local rent, wages, and supply costs the practice has to cover. The ADA HPI national average we start from is the population-weighted survey value across all surveyed practices.

The Medicaid coverage column matters more than the Medicaid fee itself for most adults. In the 40 jurisdictions that do reimburse for resin-based composite - one surface, posterior under their adult Medicaid program, the reimbursement averages around $108 — about 46% of the average private fee. Practices that accept Medicaid are absorbing the gap, which is why "Medicaid-accepting dentist" is not always easy to find. For a state-specific look at adult dental coverage scope, see each state page.

When budgeting for this procedure: treat the private estimate as a midpoint, not a ceiling. Specialty providers (oral surgeons, prosthodontists, periodontists) typically charge 15–40% above the general dentist rate for procedures within their specialty. Get a written treatment estimate before treatment, and ask whether the figure is the procedure fee alone or whether it bundles diagnostic codes (X-rays, exams) commonly billed alongside.

Related

Compare across all procedures

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: ADA Health Policy Institute, Survey of Dental Fees (2024) and Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium. State Medicaid rates: each state's published dental fee schedule (current 2026 Q1). Disclaimer: Costs shown are estimates derived from publicly-published averages and a state-level cost-of-living adjustment. Actual fees depend on the specific dentist, the geographic submarket, and clinical complexity. This site does not provide medical or dental advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does resin-based composite - one surface, posterior cost in the United States?
The national private-market average for resin-based composite - one surface, posterior (CDT D2391) is approximately $234 based on the ADA Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Fees (2024). State variation runs from $207 (lowest cost-of-living states) to $281 (highest).
Does Medicaid cover resin-based composite - one surface, posterior?
40 state Medicaid programs cover resin-based composite - one surface, posterior for adults, with average reimbursement of $108 (range $72-$170). Coverage varies by state — see the per-state table on this page.
Why does resin-based composite - one surface, posterior cost so much more in some states?
Three drivers explain the variation: state cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parities, ranging from 86 to 117), state Medicaid policy (which affects provider supply), and dentist density per capita. See our analysis of state cost spread for the full breakdown.