A dental filling costs $150 to $450 for composite (tooth-colored) and $100 to $300 for amalgam (silver) in the United States in 2026. The exact price depends on the material and how many surfaces of the tooth need repair — a small one-surface filling is cheapest, a large three-surface molar filling the most.
Fillings are the most common dental procedure there is, and also the clearest example of dentistry where acting early saves the most money — a small cavity treated now for $200 is a $1,000+ root canal if you wait. Here’s the full 2026 pricing and how to keep it low.
Dental filling cost by material and size
| 1 surface | 2 surfaces | 3+ surfaces | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amalgam (silver) | $100 – $200 | $150 – $250 | $200 – $300 |
| Composite (tooth-colored) | $150 – $300 | $200 – $400 | $250 – $450 |
| Glass ionomer | $100 – $300 | $150 – $350 | — |
| Gold / porcelain inlay | $500 – $1,500 | — | (specialty) |
“Surfaces” refers to how many sides of the tooth the cavity touches — the billing reflects the work, so a small pit is cheap and a cavity wrapping around the tooth costs more.
Composite vs. amalgam: the real trade-off
- Amalgam (silver): cheapest, extremely durable (10–15 years), but metallic and visible. Still common on out-of-sight back teeth.
- Composite (tooth-colored): the modern standard — bonds to the tooth, matches its color, preserves more natural structure. Costs $50–$150 more per tooth and lasts a bit less (7–10 years).
- Glass ionomer: releases fluoride, used for children and non-biting surfaces; less durable on chewing teeth.
For a visible tooth, composite is worth it. For a hidden molar on a tight budget, amalgam does the same job for less — though many practices now use composite by default.
The insurance “composite downgrade” to watch for
Most plans cover fillings at 70–80% after deductible as a basic procedure. But a common surprise: some plans only reimburse the amalgam price even when you get composite, especially on back teeth — you pay the difference. Before treatment, ask: “Does my plan cover composite at full rate on this tooth, or downgrade it to amalgam?” A pre-treatment estimate confirms your exact share.
Why waiting is the expensive option
The cost escalator for an untreated cavity is dramatic:
| Stage | Treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small cavity | Filling | $150 – $450 |
| Large cavity | Onlay or crown | $650 – $2,500 |
| Reaches the nerve | Root canal + crown | $1,800 – $4,300 |
| Too far gone | Extraction + implant | $3,150 – $5,200 |
A cavity doesn’t heal — it only grows. The filling you get today at $250 is the cheapest that problem will ever be. This is why routine checkups (which catch cavities small) are the highest-return spending in dentistry.
6 debt-free ways to pay less
- Dental school clinics do fillings at 40–60% off under faculty supervision — often $60–$150 per filling.
- Community health centers (FQHCs) charge income-based sliding-scale fees — locator in sources.
- Choose amalgam on hidden back teeth if budget is tight — same function, lower cost, no aesthetic downside where it doesn’t show.
- Ask for the cash-pay discount (5–10%) and use HSA/FSA pre-tax dollars — fillings are a qualified expense.
- Bundle multiple fillings in one visit — much of the fee is setup and numbing time, so several fillings per appointment often cost less than separate visits.
- Never skip the checkup. A $150 cleaning-and-exam that catches two small cavities saves you from two future root canals. It’s the cheapest insurance in dentistry — see our dental cleaning cost guide.
Filling vs. bonding vs. crown
A filling and dental bonding use the same composite material — the difference is purpose: a filling repairs decay inside the tooth; bonding reshapes the outside cosmetically. When a cavity has destroyed too much of the tooth for a filling to hold, the tooth needs an onlay or crown instead. Your dentist should explain which your tooth needs and why — and if a large filling is proposed where a crown seems warranted (or vice versa), the crown vs. filling question is a fair one to ask about.
What to expect
A filling is a single, usually quick visit under local anesthetic. The dentist removes the decay, cleans the cavity, and fills it — composite is layered and hardened with a curing light; amalgam is packed and set. You can eat once the numbness fades (right away for composite; a few hours for amalgam to fully harden). Mild sensitivity for a day or two is normal; a filling that feels “high” when you bite just needs a quick free adjustment.