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Fillings are the most routine dental procedure there is, and the bill still surprises people. The price depends on the material, the size of the cavity, and whether your plan treats the filling as basic or preventive-adjacent work. Here are the real numbers for 2026.
What a filling costs without insurance
Without insurance, a composite (tooth-colored) filling costs $150 to $350 per tooth, an amalgam (silver) filling $100 to $250, and ceramic $200 to $500. Gold fillings run $300 to $4,500 but are rare. A single visit with two composite fillings can put an uninsured patient at $300 to $600, and larger or deeper cavities cost more because they take more material and more chair time.
What you pay with insurance
Most dental plans cover fillings as basic care at 50 to 80 percent after the deductible. After insurance, a composite filling typically costs $75 to $150 out of pocket, an amalgam filling $50 to $125, and ceramic $100 to $250. Copays on straightforward fillings often land in the $10 to $50 range depending on the plan. Two composite fillings that would cost $600 cash often drop to around $300 with coverage.
A few details affect the math. Some plans pay for amalgam on back teeth but only pay the amalgam rate for composite on molars, leaving you to cover the difference. Front-tooth composites are usually covered at the full basic rate because aesthetics matter there. And if your plan has a waiting period for basic services, typically 3 to 6 months, a filling needed in month two may not be covered. Our guide to dental insurance waiting periods explains how those timelines work.
When waiting costs more than the filling
A small cavity is a $150 to $350 problem. Left alone, it becomes a root canal and crown, which together run $1,600 to $3,200 before insurance. Dentists see this progression constantly: the cheapest filling is the one you get early. If cost is the reason you are delaying, a dental cleaning without insurance often costs $150 to $300, and catching decay at the cleaning visit keeps the fix in filling territory instead of crown territory.
Is the filling itself ever the wrong question?
Sometimes. If the tooth is cracked below the gumline or the decay reaches the nerve, a filling will not hold and you are looking at a crown or extraction regardless. A good dentist will tell you when a filling is a temporary patch rather than a fix. Ask directly: “Will this filling last, or am I buying time?” The honest answer changes the budget conversation entirely, and our comparison of dental insurance versus paying out of pocket can help you decide whether coverage is worth carrying for routine work like this.
The bottom line
Expect $150 to $350 per composite filling without insurance, or $75 to $150 with a plan covering basic care at 50 to 80 percent. The material, the tooth, and your plan’s waiting periods move those numbers, so confirm the coverage percentage and deductible before you schedule.
