CA · Medicaid tier: extensive
Dental costs in California
Modeled Medicaid and private-market estimates for 62 procedures, adjusted by BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP 113.5).
Dental Affordability & Access Score
How affordable and Medicaid-accessible dental care is in California, from 2 of 2 tracked dimensions.
- Private-market affordability $935 avg estimate 0/100 · F
- Medicaid procedure coverage 58 of 62 procedures 100/100 · A
Benchmarked against the 51-state tracked corpus (p10-p90 range per dimension); a higher score means cheaper private-market care and broader adult Medicaid coverage. See how we place states.
State cost verdict
California's modeled uncovered basket is $15,132 (#35 of 51) with coverage breadth #1 (58 of 62 codes). 19 extensive programs sharing 58 covered codes are coverage-breadth #1 of 51, while Hawaii's limited program at $54,042 is uncovered-basket #1 (39 of 62 codes without a Medicaid fee), above Delaware none-tier at $51,300. Iowa extensive is the basket floor at $12,065.
- $15,132
- Uncovered basket #35
- extensive
- Adult Medicaid tier
- 58/62
- Procedures covered
- $935
- Avg private est.
Modeled Medicaid figures are ADA HPI-based estimates; confirm benefits with the state program.
Archive split · CDT categories
How 62 tracked procedures in California split by CDT category
California's heaviest tracked CDT bucket is Oral Surgery (8 of 62). Source: procedures.category × procedure_costs.
Uncovered basket vs nearest peers
Modeled cost of procedures without an adult Medicaid estimate in this archive, priced at each state's own private-market level, plus the share of the tracked basket left uncovered against the 51-jurisdiction mean. Bars are the seven closest ABS uncovered-basket peers plus California (EXT · THIN lane) - not a fixed national top-ten. Archive completeness and price level, not a treatment recommendation.
EXT nearest uncovered-basket peers
California: thin uncovered share vs corpus
Source: ADA Health Policy Institute Survey of Dental Fees and Medicaid Reimbursement Compendium; MACPAC adult dental coverage tiers procedure_costs × states coverage_tier join · 2026-05-16 California coverage is MACPAC tier (extensive); dollars are modeled private estimates, not billed claims.
California uncovered-basket dollars vs 51 jurisdictions
THIN lane · #35 by modeled uncovered basket ($15,132)
$15,132 35th of 51 higher than 16 of 51 jurisdictions
California marked among 51 states
Each bar is a $0.001K-wide band; taller bars hold more jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ADA HPI × MACPAC coverage join · 2026-05-16
California dental cost table
California carries modeled Medicaid on 58 of 62 tracked codes. Categories ordered by this state's mix (Oral Surgery first).
Oral Surgery
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction of Erupted Tooth | D7140 | $104 | $242 |
| Incisional Biopsy of Oral Tissue - Soft | D7286 | $170 | $385 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Bony with Complication | D7241 | $258 | $570 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Completely Bony | D7240 | $222 | $491 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Partially Bony | D7230 | $188 | $419 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Soft Tissue | D7220 | $133 | $299 |
| Surgical Removal of Erupted Tooth | D7210 | $163 | $365 |
| Surgical Removal of Residual Tooth Roots | D7250 | $204 | $451 |
Restorative
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amalgam - One Surface (Permanent) | D2140 | $86 | $199 |
| Amalgam - Three Surfaces (Permanent) | D2160 | $137 | $310 |
| Amalgam - Two Surfaces (Permanent) | D2150 | $109 | $257 |
| Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Anterior | D2330 | $100 | $225 |
| Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior | D2391 | $124 | $271 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Three Surfaces, Posterior | D2393 | $189 | $409 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Two Surfaces, Anterior | D2331 | $130 | $280 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Two Surfaces, Posterior | D2392 | $156 | $335 |
Diagnostic
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitewing Radiographs - Four Films | D0274 | $41 | $86 |
| Comprehensive Oral Evaluation | D0150 | $54 | $128 |
| Intraoral Complete Series of Radiographs | D0210 | $76 | $177 |
| Intraoral Periapical First Radiograph | D0220 | $20 | $40 |
| Limited Oral Evaluation (Problem Focused) | D0140 | $40 | $95 |
| Panoramic Radiographic Image | D0330 | $73 | $157 |
| Periodic Oral Evaluation | D0120 | $34 | $70 |
Endodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endodontic Therapy - Anterior Tooth | D3310 | $498 | $1,220 |
| Endodontic Therapy - Bicuspid Tooth | D3320 | $575 | $1,421 |
| Endodontic Therapy - Molar Tooth | D3330 | $688 | $1,689 |
| Retreatment of Previous Root Canal - Anterior | D3346 | $592 | $1,461 |
| Retreatment of Previous Root Canal - Molar | D3348 | $746 | $1,828 |
| Therapeutic Pulpotomy | D3220 | $85 | $199 |
Prosthodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Denture - Mandibular | D5120 | $1,010 | $2,222 |
| Complete Denture - Maxillary | D5110 | $1,010 | $2,222 |
| Mandibular Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5214 | $1,088 | $2,390 |
| Maxillary Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5213 | $1,088 | $2,390 |
| Pontic - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D6240 | $651 | $1,439 |
| Retainer Crown - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D6750 | $651 | $1,439 |
Adjunctive
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia - First 30 Minutes | D9220 | $210 | $476 |
| Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide / Anxiolysis | D9230 | $44 | $98 |
| Non-Intravenous Conscious Sedation | D9248 | $204 | $457 |
| Palliative (Emergency) Treatment of Dental Pain | D9110 | $51 | $111 |
| Therapeutic Parenteral Drug - Single Administration | D9610 | $40 | $87 |
Implants
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abutment-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | D6058 | $847 | $1,859 |
| Custom Fabricated Abutment | D6057 | $360 | $784 |
| Implant-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | D6065 | $972 | $2,134 |
| Prefabricated Abutment | D6056 | $258 | $574 |
| Surgical Placement of Implant Body | D6010 | $1,244 | $2,676 |
Preventive
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prophylaxis - Adult | D1110 | $66 | $140 |
| Prophylaxis - Child | D1120 | $51 | $98 |
| Sealant - Per Tooth | D1351 | $37 | $77 |
| Topical Application of Fluoride | D1208 | $24 | $49 |
| Topical Application of Fluoride Varnish | D1206 | $26 | $52 |
Crowns
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown - Full Cast High Noble Metal | D2790 | $651 | $1,439 |
| Crown - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D2750 | $651 | $1,439 |
| Crown - Porcelain Fused to Noble Metal | D2752 | $612 | $1,360 |
| Crown - Porcelain/Ceramic | D2740 | $688 | $1,519 |
Periodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gingivectomy or Gingivoplasty - Four+ Teeth | D4210 | $225 | $520 |
| Periodontal Maintenance | D4910 | $85 | $191 |
| Periodontal Scaling - 1-3 Teeth Per Quadrant | D4342 | $101 | $224 |
| Periodontal Scaling - Four+ Teeth Per Quadrant | D4341 | $138 | $318 |
Cosmetic
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Bleaching - Per Arch (Office) | D9972 | Not covered | $512 |
| Internal Bleaching - Per Tooth | D9974 | Not covered | $361 |
Orthodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Modeled Medicaid | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adolescent | D8080 | Not covered | $6,882 |
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adult | D8090 | Not covered | $7,378 |
California thin uncovered-basket registry
Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) covers comprehensive adult dental services including dentures and root canals. California has a modeled Medicaid estimate for 58 of 62 tracked procedures (avg $329, ADA HPI models). Uncovered basket $15,132 (#35/51, THIN).
BEA RPP 113.5 places California well above the national cost-of-living midpoint; private estimates on this page already apply that state multiplier to ADA HPI national averages (factor 1.14). Heaviest tracked CDT bucket: Oral Surgery.
Sources for California: methodology · MACPAC adult dental · BEA RPP · all states · all procedures. Estimates only; not dental advice. As of 2026-05-16.