What dental work actually costs in Salem — real, published prices
Most dental websites answer the cost question with "every case is different." True, but useless at 11pm when you're budgeting. Here are our real numbers, side by side with what Salem typically charges, and a written quote before anything is scheduled.
The master price list
These are our real fees for the procedures people ask about most, next to what the same work typically runs elsewhere in Salem. Insurance and OHP usually lower your share further. We verify benefits for free before you book.
| Procedure | Our price | Typical Salem range |
|---|---|---|
| New-patient exam + X-rays | $99 bundled | $250+ |
| Emergency exam + X-ray | $89 flat | $150–250 |
| Simple filling | from $150 | $180–320 |
| Simple extraction | from $180 | $220–350 |
| Root canal | $700–1,500 by tooth | $900–1,900 |
| Crown | from $900 | $1,100–1,600 |
| Denture (per arch) | from $1,200 | $1,400–3,500 |
| Dental implant | from $3,200 | $4,000–6,000 |
"From" prices are straightforward cases; your written quote — free with any exam — is the number that counts. Want a ballpark right now? Try our cost estimator.
Why we publish prices when nobody else does
Most offices treat fees like a state secret, for two real reasons: insurance contracts make one procedure have a dozen "prices," and publishing invites comparison shopping. We think the second reason is exactly why you should publish. If a patient compares us and picks another office, fine — at least they decided with real information instead of a surprise statement six weeks later.
Why our fees run about 20% lower
Not a promotion, not a loss leader — a business model, and it has three legs. Lean overhead: a paid-for building on Lancaster Drive, efficient scheduling, and no marble lobby to amortize into your crown. No surprise-billing games: chasing inflated claims and re-billing patients costs money; quoting once, in writing, is cheaper for everyone. Volume honesty: we'd rather do more dentistry for more neighbors at a fair price than squeeze each visit. The full breakdown of where a dental dollar goes is in our honest cost breakdown.
What moves a price up or down
Three things, mostly. Which tooth: a molar root canal has more canals than a front tooth, so the range runs $700–1,500. How deep the problem goes: a small cavity is a filling; the same cavity two years later is a crown. Materials: porcelain versus gold, standard versus premium denture teeth. That's why the exam comes first, and why every quote lists the exact tooth, procedure, and material before you commit. If two offices give you numbers that are far apart, make sure they're describing the same tooth and the same materials; most "price gaps" dissolve once the details match.
The written-quote promise
Every recommended treatment gets its exact price on paper before it's scheduled. If something unexpected shows up mid-treatment, we stop, show you, and agree on a new written number before continuing. Nobody at East Salem Dental gets a surprise bill. That's the whole point of this page. And if the total is bigger than your month, payment plans and financing from $99/month spread it out, or pay with tax-free HSA/FSA dollars.