Pick your insurance
Sixteen carriers including Delta, Cigna, Aetna, all 4 major BCBS-network plans, AARP, and "I don't see my plan." We file claims for every carrier.
Dental Insurance Cost Estimator
Live coverage estimator
What will my dental work actually cost?
Three quick taps — pick your insurance, pick your procedure, see the patient-cost range against our 2026 fee schedule next to our in-house membership plan. No login, no email, no sales pitch.
- 3quick taps
- ~30sto estimate
- 16carriers
- 20procedures priced
Estimate range, not a quote. Final cost depends on your specific plan benefits, remaining annual max, and clinical findings at your consult. Defaults used here: $1,500 annual max, $50 deductible.
Choose the procedure
Plain-language categories — Cleaning, Filling, Crown, Root Canal, Extraction, Gum Treatment, Implants, Cosmetic. Drill down to the specific option that matches your case.
See your patient cost — as a range
Insurance estimate vs. our in-house membership plan, side-by-side. Ranges (not single numbers) so you're not surprised at the desk. Real 2026 Glendale-market pricing.
Which insurance plans are accepted?
We contract directly with 14 dental insurance plans across three major provider networks. Find your carrier below to confirm in-network status — or select it in the estimator above to see your specific cost estimate.
- Delta Dental Network
Direct contracted rates
Delta Network- Delta Dental PPO
- Delta Dental Premier
- Careington Umbrella Network
8 plans in-network via Careington
Careington- Cigna Dental PPO
- Aetna Dental PPO
- United Healthcare Dental
- Humana Dental PPO
- Anthem BCBS (provisional rates)
- BCBS of Illinois (provisional rates)
- AARP via UnitedHealthcare
- AARP via Aetna
- Zelis Network
4 plans in-network via Zelis
Zelis- Ameritas
- MetLife PDP / PDP Plus
- Principal Dental PPO
- Guardian DentalGuard PPO
- Out-of-Network — BCBS of Arizona
We file claims and accept assignment of benefits
We are not contracted with BCBS of Arizona, but we still submit claims on your behalf and accept assignment of benefits. You receive whatever your plan reimburses at out-of-network rates — typically 50–80% of the carrier's UCR allowance. You are never turned away over a carrier mismatch.
The estimator falls back to our UCR (list price) schedule for BCBS AZ and any unlisted carrier, clearly tagged as out-of-network.
- Not Accepted
Affordable alternatives exist
- Medicaid / AHCCCS
We do not participate in Medicaid or AHCCCS networks. Uninsured and Medicaid-eligible patients can access care through our in-house membership plan and financing via Cherry, LendingClub, and CareCredit.
Insurance terms you should know
We have a signed fee agreement with the carrier. The insurance company sets a contracted rate — lower than our list price — and we accept that as payment in full from insurance plus your share. No surprise bills above your copay and deductible.
No fee agreement with the carrier. We still file claims on your behalf and accept assignment of benefits, so your insurer pays us directly and you pay only the difference. For most PPO plans you still receive partial reimbursement even out-of-network — typically 50–80% of the carrier's allowed amount.
No insurance involved — you pay the list price (UCR). Our in-house membership plan gives a 15% discount off UCR for most procedures, which often beats the out-of-network reimbursement rate for patients without an in-network carrier.
The amount a provider can charge you beyond what insurance pays. When in-network: zero — the contracted rate is the ceiling and you pay only your copay and deductible. When out-of-network: the gap between our UCR and what your plan reimburses. We accept assignment of benefits on all out-of-network claims, which limits your balance bill to what your plan's out-of-network benefit allows.
The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance starts contributing. Most PPO plans set $50 per individual per benefit year. Preventive care — cleanings, exams, bitewing x-rays — typically bypasses the deductible entirely. The estimator adds the deductible to your patient-paid range when you mark it as not yet met for the current year.
A calendar year resets January 1st. A benefit year resets on whatever month your employer's plan started — for example, July 1 for a plan that began mid-year. Both the deductible and the annual maximum reset on that date. The estimator assumes a standard calendar-year plan; if your plan uses a different benefit-year start, let us know at your benefits check.
The cap on what your insurance pays per benefit year. Once exhausted, you pay 100% of additional costs. Common values: $1,000 (bare-bones plans), $1,500 (mid-tier — the default used in the estimator), $2,000–$2,500 (premium plans). When patients exhaust their annual maximum mid-year, the in-house membership plan often becomes the lower-cost path for remaining treatment.
An out-of-pocket maximum — standard in medical insurance — caps total patient spending per year. Most dental PPO plans do not include one. Your exposure above the annual maximum benefit is unlimited, which is one reason a membership plan or patient financing matters once benefits are exhausted.
Employer-sponsored dental plans average $20–$50/month in employee-share premiums. Individual market plans run $25–$60/month. Coverage: preventive 100%, basic restorative 80% after deductible, major 50%, cosmetic 0%. Annual maximums range from $1,000 to $2,500 across the 14 carriers we contract with.
The most common combination among our 14 in-network carriers is a $50 individual deductible and a $1,500 annual maximum — the values the estimator defaults to. Lower-tier plans may carry a $1,000 annual maximum; premium employer plans often reach $2,000–$2,500. We verify your exact values at benefits check.
How this estimator calculates your patient-paid cost
Most online dental cost calculators use generic national averages and a single dollar figure that looks precise but rarely matches the bill. We built this one differently. Three honest inputs — your insurance carrier, the procedure category, and whether your deductible is met — produce a realistic range grounded in our actual contracted fee schedule for each of the 16 carriers we work with.
Behind the scenes, every estimate is calculated from four numbers: (1) the contracted rate from our 2026 fee schedule for your carrier's underlying network (Delta, Careington, Zelis, or our UCR list price); (2) the procedure's typical case-to-case variance (a porcelain crown ranges ±20% by tooth, a wisdom-tooth extraction ±25%); (3) your plan category coverage percentage (preventive 100%, restorative / endo / perio 80%, surgical / implants 50%, cosmetic 0%); and (4) your deductible status. The result is the realistic out-of-pocket window for your specific case — not a single dollar value, because dentistry is not a single dollar value.
What does dental insurance typically cover?
Coverage percentages are standardized across PPO plans. The tier determines what percentage your insurance pays after deductible — the procedure category (preventive, basic, or major) is what matters, not the specific tooth or CDT code.
- Preventive
Cleaning, exam, x-rays
Covered 100% after deductible on every PPO plan we work with. Most patients pay $0 out of pocket for two recall visits per benefit year if the deductible is already met.
- Basic restorative
Fillings, root canals, extractions, periodontal therapy
Typically 80% covered after deductible. A $1,000 contracted fee splits to roughly $200 out of pocket plus a $50 deductible if it is the first claim of the year.
- Major + cosmetic
Crowns, bridges, implants, veneers, whitening
Crowns and implants are typically 50% covered. Cosmetic procedures (veneers, in-office whitening) are not covered by dental insurance — this is where our in-house membership plan often produces a lower patient-paid amount.
Dr. Richard Dawson, DMD
ICOI Fellow · Implant Dentist · NPI: 1427672690
Dr. Dawson is the practice owner and lead implant dentist at Smile Science Dental Spa in Glendale, Arizona. He is an ICOI Fellow (International Congress of Oral Implantologists), one of the highest credentials in implant dentistry, and an active member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. His clinical focus is full-arch implant rehabilitation including All-on-4, All-on-6, and zygomatic placement for patients other practices have turned away.
Dr. John Turke, DMD
Restorative & Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Turke leads the practice's restorative and cosmetic clinical work, including same-day CEREC crowns, porcelain veneers, and full-mouth rehabilitation. He reviewed the procedure-coverage assumptions used in this estimator against current PPO benefit norms and signed off on the patient-facing cost ranges.
Sources, schedules, and limitations
Costs shown are drawn from our current contracted rates with each carrier network, reviewed at minimum annually as carriers re-issue fee schedules. Per standard industry practice, exact contractual rates are confidential under carrier agreements and are not published. The ranges shown reflect real 2026 pricing for our Glendale practice.
Category coverage percentages (preventive 100%, basic 80%, major 50%, cosmetic 0%) reflect the standard dental PPO tier structure as published by the American Dental Association. Your specific plan may carry different percentages or tier definitions; we verify your exact benefits before any treatment begins.
$1,500 annual maximum and $50 deductible are the most common mid-tier PPO values among the 14 carriers we are in-network with. Plans range from $1,000 to $2,500+ annual max. We verify your actual values during your benefits check before any treatment begins.
This estimator does not commit a price, replace a benefits check, or account for remaining annual maximum from prior services this year. For a confirmed quote, schedule a consult or call us at (480) 530-3663. We run a real benefits verification with your carrier before any treatment.
May 12, 2026. Carrier-contracted rates and coverage assumptions are reviewed at minimum annually.
Insurance and out-of-network cost questions, answered
Smile Science is contracted in-network with Delta Dental (PPO and Premier), Cigna Dental PPO, Aetna Dental PPO, United Healthcare Dental, Humana Dental PPO, Ameritas, MetLife PDP / PDP Plus, Principal Dental PPO, Guardian DentalGuard PPO, Anthem BCBS, BCBS of Illinois, AARP via UnitedHealthcare, and AARP via Aetna. We are out-of-network with BCBS of Arizona but still file claims and accept assignment of benefits. We do not participate in Medicaid or AHCCCS networks.
They are honest estimate ranges, not quotes. The estimator reads from our 2026 Glendale-market fee schedule across four pricing columns: UCR (our standard list price), Delta Dental contracted, Careington network (Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, Humana, AARP plans), and Zelis network (Ameritas, MetLife, Principal, Guardian). Each procedure carries a per-procedure variance (0–25%) reflecting real case-to-case differences in tooth location, bone status, and case complexity. Defaults assume a $1,500 annual maximum and $50 deductible; your specific plan may differ.
Out-of-network means we do not have a contracted fee schedule with that carrier. We still file claims on your behalf and accept assignment of benefits, so you receive whatever your plan reimburses out-of-network — typically 50–80% of the carrier's usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) allowance. For Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and any other unlisted carrier, the estimator falls back to UCR pricing and clearly tags those carriers as out-of-network. You are never turned away over a carrier mismatch.
For preventive care (cleanings, exams, x-rays) insurance covers 100% after deductible, so insurance always wins for those services. For elective and cosmetic procedures like porcelain veneers and in-office whitening, dental insurance typically covers 0% — making the 15% off UCR membership discount the better path. For out-of-network carriers, the membership often beats the out-of-network reimbursement against UCR. The estimator stars whichever option produces the lower patient-paid range for your specific scenario.
Because the same CDT code can vary 15–25% from case to case based on tooth location (front vs. molar), bone status, gum health, sedation needs, and the specific complexity at the chair. A range is the honest answer; a single number would set up a billing surprise. The exact number is confirmed at consult once the doctor examines the case and our front office has verified your benefits with your carrier.
A deductible is the amount you pay before insurance contributes anything. Most PPO plans set a $50 individual deductible per benefit year, applied to the first basic or major procedure. Preventive care (cleanings, exams) typically does not require the deductible. The estimator adds the deductible to the patient-paid amount when the user marks "Not yet" — for a $1,000 procedure with 80% coverage, that is roughly $50 deductible + $190 copay = $240 patient-paid (versus $200 with deductible already met). Your actual deductible may differ; we verify it during your benefits check.
The estimator uses $1,500 as the typical mid-tier PPO annual maximum, which is the most common value across the carriers we work with. Plans range from $1,000 (lower-tier) to $2,500+ (premium). If your plan is lower than $1,500, large procedures like crowns or implants may exhaust the maximum and shift more cost onto you in the same benefit year. We cover this in the benefits check we run before you commit to treatment.
Yes. The AARP Dental Insurance Plan is administered by either UnitedHealthcare or Aetna depending on which AARP product you signed up for. Both administrators put us in-network through their underlying provider agreements (Careington for both UHC and Aetna in our region). The estimator handles AARP-via-UHC and AARP-via-Aetna separately so you can pick whichever is on your card.
No — we do not participate in Medicaid or AHCCCS dental networks. For uninsured patients, our in-house membership plan and partnerships with Cherry, LendingClub, and CareCredit make most treatments affordable on monthly-payment terms.
At least annually. Carriers re-issue contracted rates each January, and we audit our contracted rates against new explanation-of-benefit (EOB) statements as the new year's claims process. The ranges shown in this estimator are updated whenever we confirm a rate change with a carrier, and at minimum each January. If your carrier has reissued rates mid-year, call us at (480) 530-3663 and we'll give you the current number directly.
Yes. Smile Science Dental Spa is in-network with Cigna Dental PPO through the Careington provider network. The estimator maps Cigna to our Careington contracted rates, which are typically 10–25% below our UCR list price.
Yes. We are in-network with United Healthcare Dental (UHC Dental) through the Careington network. AARP Dental Insurance Plans administered by UnitedHealthcare are also in-network via the same provider agreement.
Humana Dental PPO is in-network at Smile Science through the Careington provider network. Select "Humana Dental PPO" in the estimator above to see your Careington-based contracted rates for any of the 20 procedures.
Yes. AARP dental plans come in two varieties depending on which carrier administers your plan: AARP via UnitedHealthcare and AARP via Aetna. Both are in-network at Smile Science through the Careington provider network. Check your AARP plan card to see whether UnitedHealthcare or Aetna is listed as the administrator.
No — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is not contracted with our practice. We are out-of-network for BCBS AZ but still file claims on your behalf and accept assignment of benefits, so your plan pays its out-of-network rate directly to us. You are never turned away due to a carrier mismatch. Note: Anthem BCBS and BCBS of Illinois are separate networks and are in-network through our Careington contract.
Careington International Corporation is a dental network administrator used by multiple large insurance carriers as their PPO fee schedule and provider-credentialing backbone. At Smile Science, our Careington contract covers Cigna Dental PPO, Aetna Dental PPO, United Healthcare Dental, Humana Dental PPO, Anthem BCBS, BCBS of Illinois, AARP via UHC, and AARP via Aetna. If your carrier is on this list, you are in-network with us.
Zelis is a healthcare technology company that manages fee schedules and claims workflows for several large dental insurance carriers. Our Zelis contract covers Ameritas, MetLife PDP / PDP Plus, Principal Dental PPO, and Guardian DentalGuard PPO. Select any of these carriers in the estimator above to see your Zelis-based contracted rates.