Dental procedure costs in District of Columbia
District of Columbia dental cost overview
DC Medicaid covers comprehensive adult dental services.
District of Columbia's state-level cost of living, captured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities at 116.5 (US average = 100), drives private-market dental fees up or down from the national baseline. District of Columbia sits well above the national average, expect to pay roughly 17% more than the ADA HPI national private-market average for the same procedure.
District of Columbia Medicaid covers 58 of the 62 procedures we track for adults, with an average reimbursement of $404 per procedure across covered services. The full procedure-by-procedure table is below.
Reimbursement rates and coverage tiers are set state-by-state and shift annually as legislatures rebalance Medicaid budgets, so the figures shown here for District of Columbia reflect the most recent published schedule we have on file, always confirm with the state Medicaid office or your dental provider before scheduling. Adult coverage tiers in our framework correspond to common cost-sharing patterns: emergency-only states pay only for pain relief, extractions, or trauma; limited-coverage states add cleanings and fillings; comprehensive states pay for crowns, bridges, and dentures. Pediatric coverage is more uniform across states because EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) federally mandates a baseline of children's dental services, so family-budget planning for kids in District of Columbia should be straightforward.
District of Columbia dental cost table
All procedures shown below are organized by clinical category. Click any procedure for cross-state comparison.
Adjunctive
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia - First 30 Minutes | D9220 | $258 | $488 |
| Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide / Anxiolysis | D9230 | $54 | $100 |
| Non-Intravenous Conscious Sedation | D9248 | $251 | $470 |
| Palliative (Emergency) Treatment of Dental Pain | D9110 | $62 | $114 |
| Therapeutic Parenteral Drug - Single Administration | D9610 | $49 | $90 |
Cosmetic
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Bleaching - Per Arch (Office) | D9972 | Not covered | $525 |
| Internal Bleaching - Per Tooth | D9974 | Not covered | $370 |
Crowns
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown - Full Cast High Noble Metal | D2790 | $800 | $1,477 |
| Crown - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D2750 | $800 | $1,477 |
| Crown - Porcelain Fused to Noble Metal | D2752 | $753 | $1,396 |
| Crown - Porcelain/Ceramic | D2740 | $845 | $1,559 |
Diagnostic
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitewing Radiographs - Four Films | D0274 | $51 | $89 |
| Comprehensive Oral Evaluation | D0150 | $67 | $132 |
| Intraoral Complete Series of Radiographs | D0210 | $93 | $182 |
| Intraoral Periapical First Radiograph | D0220 | $25 | $41 |
| Limited Oral Evaluation (Problem Focused) | D0140 | $49 | $98 |
| Panoramic Radiographic Image | D0330 | $90 | $161 |
| Periodic Oral Evaluation | D0120 | $42 | $72 |
Endodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endodontic Therapy - Anterior Tooth | D3310 | $612 | $1,252 |
| Endodontic Therapy - Bicuspid Tooth | D3320 | $706 | $1,459 |
| Endodontic Therapy - Molar Tooth | D3330 | $845 | $1,734 |
| Retreatment of Previous Root Canal - Anterior | D3346 | $728 | $1,499 |
| Retreatment of Previous Root Canal - Molar | D3348 | $916 | $1,877 |
| Therapeutic Pulpotomy | D3220 | $104 | $204 |
Implants
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abutment-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | D6058 | $1,041 | $1,908 |
| Custom Fabricated Abutment | D6057 | $442 | $805 |
| Implant-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | D6065 | $1,195 | $2,190 |
| Prefabricated Abutment | D6056 | $318 | $589 |
| Surgical Placement of Implant Body | D6010 | $1,528 | $2,747 |
Oral Surgery
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction of Erupted Tooth | D7140 | $128 | $248 |
| Incisional Biopsy of Oral Tissue - Soft | D7286 | $209 | $395 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Bony with Complication | D7241 | $318 | $585 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Completely Bony | D7240 | $273 | $504 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Partially Bony | D7230 | $231 | $430 |
| Removal of Impacted Tooth - Soft Tissue | D7220 | $164 | $306 |
| Surgical Removal of Erupted Tooth | D7210 | $200 | $375 |
| Surgical Removal of Residual Tooth Roots | D7250 | $251 | $463 |
Orthodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adolescent | D8080 | Not covered | $7,063 |
| Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment - Adult | D8090 | Not covered | $7,573 |
Periodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gingivectomy or Gingivoplasty - Four+ Teeth | D4210 | $277 | $534 |
| Periodontal Maintenance | D4910 | $104 | $196 |
| Periodontal Scaling - 1-3 Teeth Per Quadrant | D4342 | $125 | $230 |
| Periodontal Scaling - Four+ Teeth Per Quadrant | D4341 | $170 | $326 |
Preventive
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prophylaxis - Adult | D1110 | $81 | $143 |
| Prophylaxis - Child | D1120 | $62 | $100 |
| Sealant - Per Tooth | D1351 | $45 | $79 |
| Topical Application of Fluoride | D1208 | $29 | $50 |
| Topical Application of Fluoride Varnish | D1206 | $32 | $54 |
Prosthodontics
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Denture - Mandibular | D5120 | $1,241 | $2,281 |
| Complete Denture - Maxillary | D5110 | $1,241 | $2,281 |
| Mandibular Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5214 | $1,337 | $2,453 |
| Maxillary Partial Denture - Cast Metal Framework | D5213 | $1,337 | $2,453 |
| Pontic - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D6240 | $800 | $1,477 |
| Retainer Crown - Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal | D6750 | $800 | $1,477 |
Restorative
| Procedure | CDT | Medicaid fee | Private estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amalgam - One Surface (Permanent) | D2140 | $106 | $204 |
| Amalgam - Three Surfaces (Permanent) | D2160 | $168 | $318 |
| Amalgam - Two Surfaces (Permanent) | D2150 | $133 | $263 |
| Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Anterior | D2330 | $123 | $231 |
| Resin-Based Composite - One Surface, Posterior | D2391 | $152 | $278 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Three Surfaces, Posterior | D2393 | $232 | $419 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Two Surfaces, Anterior | D2331 | $160 | $288 |
| Resin-Based Composite - Two Surfaces, Posterior | D2392 | $191 | $344 |
Analysis: paying for dental care in District of Columbia
Adults on Medicaid in District of Columbia have access to a comprehensive adult dental benefit. The catch is finding a dentist who takes Medicaid: state Medicaid programs typically reimburse around 30–50% of private-market fees, which means many private practices either don't accept Medicaid or accept a limited number of Medicaid patients. The state Medicaid agency maintains a directory of participating dentists; FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) and dental school clinics are typically the highest-volume Medicaid-accepting providers in any market.
For uninsured adults, the gap between the cheapest provider category (FQHC, dental school) and a private general dentist is typically 30–50% on routine procedures, much wider on specialty work like crowns and implants. Always ask for a written treatment estimate that itemizes diagnostic codes (X-rays, exams) separately from the procedure fee, bundled estimates can mask significant variation in how providers price the same work.
The state's overall cost-of-living position (BEA RPP 116.5) gives you a quick mental adjustment for the ADA HPI national private-market averages: multiply the national figure by 1.17 for the District of Columbia state-level estimate. The actual price you'll see at a specific dentist will vary - urban downtowns tend to be 15–25% above the state RPP, rural areas 10–15% below, but the state RPP is a good first-pass estimate.
Related
District of Columbia Medicaid dental fee schedule (state Medicaid agency, current 2026 Q1).
Source: MACPAC, Medicaid Coverage of Dental Benefits for Adults (compendium).
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, by State (most recent annual release).
Source: District of Columbia Medicaid dental fee schedule (current 2026 Q1). Private-market estimates: ADA HPI Survey of Dental Fees (2024) adjusted by BEA Regional Price Parities. Disclaimer: Estimates only, actual fees depend on the specific dentist, geographic submarket, and clinical complexity. State coverage policy can change. This site does not provide medical or dental advice.