Costs
Dental Treatment Costs Explained
Why dental costs vary, what goes into a written estimate at Suman Dental Care, and the questions worth asking before you agree to treatment.
Why the clinic does not list prices on this site
Two people can need the same named treatment and still have very different plans. The condition of the tooth, the materials chosen and the number of visits all change the work involved. A single figure on a website would be misleading, so this site explains what affects the cost and the clinic gives you an estimate after it has examined you.
What generally affects the cost
- Diagnosis. What the examination and X-rays show decides what is needed. A tooth with a simple cavity and a tooth with a deep infection need different work.
- Materials. Fillings, crowns, braces and implants come in different materials, and they differ in how long they usually last and how they look.
- Number of visits. Some treatments are done in one sitting. Others, such as braces or implants, take many visits over months.
- Laboratory work. Crowns, bridges, dentures and some aligners are made in a dental laboratory to fit your mouth, which is a separate step.
- Specialist involvement. Some cases need an endodontist, an oral surgeon or an orthodontist, and their time and skills are part of the plan.
- Complexity. Teeth that are crowded, broken, infected or hard to reach take longer to treat.
Each treatment page lists the factors that apply to that treatment, with no prices.
What you get before treatment starts
- An examination, with X-rays if needed.
- An explanation of what was found and the options, including the choice to wait where it is safe.
- A written estimate for the option you choose.
- A chance to ask questions and take time before you decide.
If the plan changes during treatment, for example because something unexpected is found, the dentist tells you before going ahead.
No offers or discounts
The clinic does not run offers or discounts, and it does not advertise treatment prices.
Questions worth asking
- What is included in the estimate, and what is not?
- How many visits will I need?
- How long is the treatment expected to last, and what could shorten that?
- What are the alternatives, including doing nothing for now?
- Will I need follow-up visits, and are they part of the estimate?
For a longer read, see what affects the cost of dental treatment. To start, read about your first visit or book an appointment.
What affects the cost
General dentistry: check-ups, cleaning and fillings
Size and depth of the cavityA small surface filling takes less time and material than a large one that rebuilds a tooth cusp.
Filling materialTooth-coloured composite, glass ionomer and other materials differ in cost and in where they are suited.
Number of teethEach tooth needing a filling is charged separately.
Amount of tartarHeavy tartar or gum inflammation may need more than one cleaning visit.
X-raysA small X-ray of one tooth costs less than a set of X-rays of several areas.
Children's dentistry
Check-up only or treatmentA routine check-up costs less than visits that include fillings, sealants or extractions.
Number of teeth treatedEach filled or sealed tooth is charged separately.
How cooperative your child isAn anxious child may need extra, shorter visits to build trust before treatment.
Type of treatmentA sealant, a filling and a pulp treatment of a milk tooth take different amounts of time and material.
Later orthodontic careIf braces are needed, they are planned separately by the orthodontist.
Root canal treatment
Which toothFront teeth usually have one canal; molars have three or four, so they take longer.
Curved or narrow canalsCanals that are calcified or sharply curved need more time and instruments.
First treatment or re-treatmentRe-treating an old root canal means removing the old filling first.
Number of visitsA heavily infected tooth may need medicine placed between visits.
The crownMetal-ceramic, full ceramic and zirconia crowns differ in material and lab cost.
Gum treatment
How advanced the disease isMild gum disease needs a cleaning; deep pockets need repeat deep cleaning.
Number of teeth involvedTreating the whole mouth takes longer than treating one area.
Number of visitsDeep cleaning is often done one side of the mouth at a time.
X-rays and gum chartingThese are used to plan treatment and to measure progress.
Maintenance visitsRegular follow-up cleaning every 3–6 months is part of long-term treatment.
Laser dentistry
ProcedureReshaping a few teeth takes less time than a full-arch gum reshaping.
Area treatedA small growth costs less than treating a large area.
Anaesthetic neededSurface gel is simpler than injections.
Other treatment alongsideLaser is often done together with cleaning, fillings or a smile-design plan.
Review visitA follow-up check is included for most procedures.
Orthodontic treatment
Braces or alignersThe appliance type, the materials and the number of aligner trays affect the cost.
How complex the bite isMild crowding takes less time than a bite that needs a jaw correction or extractions.
Length of treatmentLonger treatment means more reviews.
Records and scansX-rays (including an OPG and cephalogram), photos and a scan or impressions are needed to plan.
RetainersFixed or removable retainers are needed at the end and replaced if lost or worn.
Extra treatmentScaling, fillings or gum care may be needed before braces start.
Braces
Type of bracketsMetal and tooth-coloured ceramic brackets differ in material and cost.
Complexity of the biteMild crowding is quicker to treat than a significant overbite or underbite.
Length of treatmentA longer treatment means more adjustment visits.
Extractions or extra appliancesSome cases need teeth removed or additional appliances such as elastics or expanders.
RecordsX-rays (including an OPG and cephalogram), photos and impressions or a scan at the start.
RetainersRetainers at the end are essential and may need replacing if lost or worn.
Clear aligners
Complexity of the caseMore movement needs more trays and takes longer.
Number of traysThe total set is planned at the start; refinement trays may be added.
Aligner systemDifferent aligner brands and labs differ in cost.
Scan and recordsPhotos, X-rays and an intraoral 3D scan at the start.
RetainersRetainers are essential afterwards and may need to be replaced.
Dental implants
Number of implantsReplacing one tooth, several teeth or a full arch needs different numbers of implants.
Bone graft or sinus liftIf there is not enough bone, a graft adds a procedure, material and healing time.
Implant brand and crown materialImplant systems and crown materials such as metal-ceramic and zirconia differ in cost.
Scans and planningA CBCT scan and surgical planning are needed before treatment.
Extraction firstIf a failing tooth is still there, removing it is done first and the site may need to heal.
Immediate or delayed loadingA temporary tooth on the day of surgery may be possible in some cases and adds cost.
Oral surgery and wisdom teeth
Simple or surgical extractionA tooth that is fully through the gum is simpler than one under the gum or bone.
Position and angle of the toothTeeth lying sideways or deep in the bone take longer to remove.
Number of teethRemoving several teeth in one sitting is planned differently from removing one.
Scan or X-rayAn OPG or CBCT scan if needed to see the roots and the nerve.
Medicines and reviewAntibiotics or pain relief, and the review visit at about 7 days.
Crowns and bridges
MaterialMetal, metal-ceramic, full ceramic and zirconia crowns differ in material and lab cost.
Number of unitsA bridge has a crown on each side of the gap plus the replacement tooth.
Tooth conditionA tooth may need a root canal or a core build-up before the crown.
Position in the mouthFront teeth need a closer colour match; back teeth need strength.
Temporary and lab workA temporary crown and the lab fee are part of the work.
Dentures
Complete or partialA full arch uses more material and takes longer than a partial denture.
Material and teethAcrylic, flexible and cast-metal frameworks, and different tooth qualities, differ in cost.
Number of teeth replacedMore teeth mean more material and lab time.
Extractions firstTeeth that need removing first add a procedure and healing time.
Implants for supportImplant-supported dentures add the implants and surgery.
Later relines or repairsA reline or a repair is a separate procedure after a few years.
Smile design
Number of teethA smile design for 2 teeth is very different from a design for 6–8 front teeth.
Type of restorationComposite bonding, ceramic veneers and crowns differ in material, lab work and cost.
Preparation workGum treatment, whitening or gum contouring done before the final work.
Digital design and trial smilePhotos, scans and a mock-up take planning time and materials.
Lab workVeneers and crowns are made to order at a dental laboratory.
Teeth whitening
In-clinic or take-homeIn-clinic whitening uses stronger gel in one session; take-home trays use milder gel over weeks.
Starting shade and stain typeDarker or deeper stains may need more sessions.
Scaling firstA cleaning to remove tartar and surface stain is done before whitening.
Custom traysTake-home trays are made to fit your teeth and can be reused for top-ups.
Top-up treatmentColour fades over time, and top-up gel or a repeat session may be needed.
Questions patients ask
Can you tell me the cost over the phone?
Not reliably. The cost depends on what the dentist finds at the examination, so the clinic gives an estimate in person after examining you.
Will I get the estimate in writing?
Yes. After the examination, you receive a written estimate for the treatment you choose, before treatment begins.
Does the clinic offer discounts or special offers?
No. The clinic does not run offers or discounts. The estimate reflects the treatment plan.
Why can the final cost differ from the estimate?
If something unexpected is found during treatment, such as a deeper infection or an extra tooth to treat, the plan may change. The dentist explains this and gets your agreement before going ahead.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.