Price of dental care in G7 countries revealed: Average visit costs Americans $500 dollars, compared to $170 in Italy (but you could wait months!)

The shocking disparity between the price of dental care in the world’s most advanced countries has been exposed.

Dental care in America is the most expensive of all the G7 countries, costing an average of $518.

Germany and Italy are the cheapest, at $210 and $173 respectively.

Healthnews focused on five major dental procedures – cleanings, crowns, root canals, tooth extractions and fillings – and analyzed prices from more than 350 local dental and oral health websites.

Data was collected in March 2024 using an average of 50 information sources per country, including online health forums, relevant government pages and healthcare price comparison websites. Prices were converted into US dollars.

The US was the most expensive country for each procedure, with a crown there costing three times as much as in Italy: $1,052 compared to $308.

A routine cleaning in America costs about $163, while more complicated procedures cost $838 for a root canal and $305 for a tooth extraction.

In America, the dental care system consists primarily of private practices, supported by various payment methods including insurance, direct payments, and some government programs for those who qualify.

These include Medicaid, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F, and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

But insurance plans often have caps and high deductibles, meaning people can still end up paying a lot for the dental care they need.

Despite the high costs in America, people have relatively quick access to care.

According to a 2022 study, the average wait time for a first dental appointment in the U.S. was 10 days, Statista reported.

By comparison, in Britain some patients have been asked to wait maximum three years for appointments and six weeks for emergency care.

Canada is the second most expensive country to get your teeth cared for, with an average of $414 for treatment.

People who live here might pay about $136 for a cleaning and nearly $1,000 for a crown — a tooth-shaped cap that repairs a decayed, broken, weak or worn tooth.

In Canada, dental care operates separately from the universal health care system and primarily through private clinics.

While hospital and physician services are covered by government healthcare plans for most Canadians, dental services are not, meaning access to affordable dental care is still a challenge for many Canadians.

Compared to the US and UK, it is relatively cheap to have a tooth extraction done in Canada, which will cost you $198.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, Canadians have some of the best access to oral care in the world and wait times are among the shortest worldwide.

Three in four Canadians visit a dentist at least once a year and 84 percent of Canadians believe they have good or excellent oral health.

In the UK, the average dental procedure costs $331. Cleaning is one of the lowest at $92, and crowns are much less than in America at $627.

The system includes both the National Health Service (NHS) and private dental practices.

The NHS provides check-ups, treatments such as fillings and extractions, and some cosmetic treatments if deemed medically necessary.

But there is a serious shortage of funding for NHS dentistry that has been escalating for years, leading to an increase in the number of people trying DIY treatments at home.

Although private dentists generally offer more flexible appointments and shorter waiting lists, many are still oversubscribed.

Costs are also significantly higher and vary widely across the UK.

In France, the average dental procedure costs $246. Tooth extractions and fillings cost almost half the price in Britain, $126 and $135 respectively, compared to $238 and $215 in England.

Cleaning costs $115, while a crown costs $418.

In theory, the French healthcare system covers 70 percent of the cost of most dental treatments using state social security, with an option for private health insurance to cover the final 30 percent.

However, the actual prices dentists charge are often significantly higher than state suggested prices, meaning out-of-pocket costs can be high.

In Japan, tooth extraction costs $204, while cleaning costs a modest $121. Japan’s health insurance system covers most dental treatments, including routine checkups, fillings and root canal treatments.

Patients usually pay 30 percent of the treatment costs, making dental care accessible and not burdening citizens with high out-of-pocket expenses.

Germany is known for its high-quality dental services, which are covered by the country’s statutory health insurance.

This usually includes routine checkups and basic treatments such as fillings. Cleanings generally cost $89, while crowns can cost up to $323.

Italy has the most affordable dental care of all the countries surveyed, being the only country where certain average procedures fall under $100.

Cleaning services cost $78, while tooth extractions cost $97.

The Italian National Health Service offers a number of dental services for free or at reduced prices, with an emphasis on prevention through routine check-ups, basic fillings, tooth extractions and emergency care.

And in the private sector, dental treatments in Italy are more affordable than in many parts of Northern European countries and the US. This is partly due to the lower cost of living in the country.

However, in Italy, waiting times can be long. Waiting times on the Italian NHS vary considerably, so you may wait a week or a few months, but in the private system you can usually get an appointment more quickly, even within 24 hours, according to Expatica.