How much do dental crowns cost?
Here's a very "ballpark" estimate of the price you might pay to have a dental crown made for a single tooth.
We anticipate that the lower end of this range would be representative of an average fee found in a small rural town (whose ACCRA Cost of Living Index is approximately 85). The higher end of this range would be more representative of the average fee found in a large metropolitan area on either coast (whose ACCRA Cost of Living Index is around 125).
Determining fees: The dentist's perspective.
No doubt most dentists would like to think that their patients have chosen them to be their dentist primarily because of their dental experience and the quality of their dental work, and not because how much or how little they charge for making dental crowns.
Most dentists would probably consider a consultation appointment to be an excellent way for a potential patient to learn about the cost of the specific dental treatment they need and also as a way of meeting them and experiencing the environment in which the dental treatment will be performed. Most dentists will likely charge an examination fee for this visit. The receptionist making your consultation appointment should be able to quote this fee for you precisely.
The receptionist may not be able to know exactly what dental x-rays will be required during your examination and these can add to the cost of the consultation, but these are items that you would need no matter which dentist performed your work. After you have had your consultation appointment with the dentist, if you decide not to have them perform the treatment, or if you simply choose to get a second opinion, in most cases you can request that your x-rays be forwarded to another dental office.
Determining fees: The patient's perspective.
It seems doubtful that any patient would want to choose a dentist based strictly on price. Surely the manner in which the dental treatment is performed and the quality of the results should be of equal, if not much greater, concern. Ask your friends and coworkers who their dentist is. Reputations travel, your friends will know who has provided quality work for them and they will also likely have a relative idea of how the fees charged by their dentist compare with other dentists in your area.
A polite telephone survey to a few dental offices can give you a general idea of the range of fees found in your area. Many dental offices, however, will be somewhat put off by such inquires, primarily for two reasons. The first reason is that most dentists want to develop a continuing relationship with their patients. They are interested in helping patients overcome their current dental problems and then continue on with periodic checks so to help them maintain their oral health. A phone call from a person who is only interested in how much a dental crown will cost often does not fit this ideal.
The other problem is that dental office personnel realize that phone inquiries often result in "apples and oranges" comparisons. Without an examination by their dentist it is impossible for the dental office staff to know exactly what work is needed, and thus it is impossible for them to give you an accurate idea of treatment costs.
If you do choose to survey dental offices by phone we would suggest the following. The American Dental Association ("ADA") has developed a series of code numbers, each of which references a specific dental procedure. These codes are standard for the dental industry and are used by all dental offices and dental insurers. When making an enquiry ask the dental office receptionist what ADA code number is associated with the procedure for which they are providing fee information. Then make sure you reference this same number when contacting other dental offices. This way you are most likely to collect true "apples to apples" comparative quotes.
Topic Index for :
Dental Crowns / Dental "Caps."
