Topical Application of Fluoride Varnish
Open-data reference.
About topical application of fluoride varnish
What it is: Topical fluoride varnish application The American Dental Association assigns this procedure CDT code D1206, 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 $45 based on the ADA Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Fees (2024). State variation pushes this between $$40 (lowest cost-of-living states) and $$54 (highest). State Medicaid programs that cover topical application of fluoride varnish for adults reimburse an average of $23 (range $15–$36 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.
(across covering states)
Top 10 states: Topical Application of Fluoride Varnish private cost vs national average
Topical Application of Fluoride Varnish cost by state
| State | Medicaid fee | Private estimate | Adult coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not covered | $40 | emergency |
| Alaska | $36 | $49 | extensive |
| Arizona | Not covered | $44 | emergency |
| Arkansas | $16 | $40 | limited |
| California | $26 | $52 | extensive |
| Colorado | $21 | $47 | limited |
| Connecticut | $29 | $50 | extensive |
| Delaware | Not covered | $46 | none |
| District of Columbia | $32 | $54 | extensive |
| Florida | Not covered | $46 | emergency |
| Georgia | Not covered | $43 | emergency |
| Hawaii | $30 | $52 | limited |
| Idaho | $17 | $43 | limited |
| Illinois | $19 | $46 | extensive |
| Indiana | $16 | $42 | limited |
| Iowa | $24 | $42 | extensive |
| Kansas | Not covered | $42 | emergency |
| Kentucky | $18 | $41 | limited |
| Louisiana | $17 | $42 | limited |
| Maine | $20 | $46 | limited |
| Maryland | $26 | $51 | extensive |
| Massachusetts | $28 | $51 | extensive |
| Michigan | $21 | $44 | extensive |
| Minnesota | $31 | $46 | extensive |
| Mississippi | Not covered | $40 | emergency |
| Missouri | $16 | $42 | limited |
| Montana | $21 | $43 | limited |
| Nebraska | $20 | $42 | limited |
| Nevada | $19 | $46 | limited |
| New Hampshire | $22 | $48 | extensive |
| New Jersey | $26 | $52 | extensive |
| New Mexico | $18 | $43 | limited |
| New York | $33 | $54 | extensive |
| North Carolina | $19 | $43 | limited |
| North Dakota | $29 | $42 | extensive |
| Ohio | $17 | $42 | limited |
| Oklahoma | Not covered | $41 | emergency |
| Oregon | $26 | $47 | extensive |
| Pennsylvania | $16 | $45 | limited |
| Rhode Island | $23 | $46 | extensive |
| South Carolina | $16 | $42 | limited |
| South Dakota | Not covered | $41 | emergency |
| Tennessee | Not covered | $42 | emergency |
| Texas | Not covered | $44 | emergency |
| Utah | $18 | $44 | limited |
| Vermont | $26 | $46 | extensive |
| Virginia | $24 | $47 | extensive |
| Washington | $27 | $50 | extensive |
| West Virginia | $15 | $40 | limited |
| Wisconsin | $21 | $44 | limited |
| Wyoming | $24 | $44 | limited |
Analysis: how to think about topical application of fluoride varnish costs
The roughly 36% spread between the lowest- and highest-cost states for topical application of fluoride varnish comes almost entirely from cost of living, not from differences in clinical complexity. A dentist's fee for a D1206 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 topical application of fluoride varnish under their adult Medicaid program, the reimbursement averages around $23 — about 50% 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
Source: ADA Health Policy Institute, Survey of Dental Fees (2024).
Source: ADA Health Policy Institute, Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium (2024).
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, by State (most recent annual release).
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.