Dental Care Costs Price History
1960–2025 · BLS
The Consumer Price Index for dental services in the United States, tracked from 1960 to 2025. Dental care is one of those healthcare costs that flies under the radar because most people pay for it out of pocket or through separate dental insurance that barely covers anything beyond cleanings. The CPI for dental services has climbed from 27.0 in 1960 to 448.0 in 2025 — a 16-fold increase that has consistently outpaced overall inflation. Routine procedures that cost a few dollars decades ago now run hundreds, and major work can easily top thousands.
Source: BLS1960–2025
Price in 1960
$27.00
Price in 2025
$448.00
Total Change
+1559.3%
Years Tracked
65
Dental Care Costs Over Time
1960Year Range2025
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- Dental costs have risen faster than general inflation in almost every decade since tracking began. The CPI for dental services hit 448 in 2025, compared to the overall CPI of roughly 320, meaning dental care has gotten significantly more expensive even relative to everything else that has gone up.
- The 1980s saw some of the fastest growth, with the dental CPI nearly doubling from 78.9 in 1980 to 136.0 in 1990. That decade brought new technologies like composite fillings and better imaging, but it also saw dental practices consolidating and raising prices with less competitive pressure.
- Growth slowed modestly in the 2010s, with annual increases averaging around 2.5%, partly because more patients were deferring care due to cost and because dental insurance reimbursement rates were not keeping up. But slower growth on a high base still means painful dollar amounts.
- The post-pandemic period brought a noticeable acceleration, with the index jumping from 381.7 in 2020 to 448.0 in 2025. Dental offices faced higher costs for PPE, infection control, and staffing, and they passed those costs straight through to patients.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100)) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | $27.00 | — |
| 1965 | $30.30 | +12.2% |
| 1970 | $39.20 | +29.4% |
| 1975 | $53.20 | +35.7% |
| 1976 | $56.50 | +6.2% |
| 1977 | $60.20 | +6.5% |
| 1978 | $64.40 | +7.0% |
| 1979 | $69.20 | +7.5% |
| 1980 | $78.90 | +14.0% |
| 1981 | $85.30 | +8.1% |
| 1982 | $92.10 | +8.0% |
| 1983 | $97.40 | +5.8% |
| 1984 | $101.60 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | $105.10 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | $110.20 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | $115.40 | +4.7% |
| 1988 | $121.50 | +5.3% |
| 1989 | $128.80 | +6.0% |
| 1990 | $136.00 | +5.6% |
| 1991 | $143.10 | +5.2% |
| 1992 | $151.20 | +5.7% |
| 1993 | $158.10 | +4.6% |
| 1994 | $164.80 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | $172.50 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | $179.60 | +4.1% |
| 1997 | $187.40 | +4.3% |
| 1998 | $194.40 | +3.7% |
| 1999 | $200.90 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | $209.20 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | $218.30 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | $227.60 | +4.3% |
| 2003 | $237.70 | +4.4% |
| 2004 | $247.20 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | $256.20 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | $265.50 | +3.6% |
| 2007 | $276.10 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | $287.10 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | $295.00 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | $300.30 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | $308.80 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | $315.00 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | $322.00 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | $328.50 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | $336.20 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | $344.50 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | $354.10 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | $364.80 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | $375.20 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | $381.70 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $390.50 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $402.80 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $420.50 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $435.20 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $448.00 | +2.9% |
Year1960
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$27.00
YoY Change—
Year1965
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$30.30
YoY Change+12.2%
Year1970
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$39.20
YoY Change+29.4%
Year1975
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$53.20
YoY Change+35.7%
Year1976
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$56.50
YoY Change+6.2%
Year1977
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$60.20
YoY Change+6.5%
Year1978
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$64.40
YoY Change+7.0%
Year1979
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$69.20
YoY Change+7.5%
Year1980
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$78.90
YoY Change+14.0%
Year1981
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$85.30
YoY Change+8.1%
Year1982
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$92.10
YoY Change+8.0%
Year1983
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$97.40
YoY Change+5.8%
Year1984
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$101.60
YoY Change+4.3%
Year1985
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$105.10
YoY Change+3.4%
Year1986
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$110.20
YoY Change+4.9%
Year1987
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$115.40
YoY Change+4.7%
Year1988
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$121.50
YoY Change+5.3%
Year1989
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$128.80
YoY Change+6.0%
Year1990
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$136.00
YoY Change+5.6%
Year1991
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$143.10
YoY Change+5.2%
Year1992
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$151.20
YoY Change+5.7%
Year1993
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$158.10
YoY Change+4.6%
Year1994
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$164.80
YoY Change+4.2%
Year1995
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$172.50
YoY Change+4.7%
Year1996
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$179.60
YoY Change+4.1%
Year1997
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$187.40
YoY Change+4.3%
Year1998
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$194.40
YoY Change+3.7%
Year1999
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$200.90
YoY Change+3.3%
Year2000
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$209.20
YoY Change+4.1%
Year2001
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$218.30
YoY Change+4.3%
Year2002
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$227.60
YoY Change+4.3%
Year2003
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$237.70
YoY Change+4.4%
Year2004
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$247.20
YoY Change+4.0%
Year2005
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$256.20
YoY Change+3.6%
Year2006
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$265.50
YoY Change+3.6%
Year2007
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$276.10
YoY Change+4.0%
Year2008
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$287.10
YoY Change+4.0%
Year2009
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$295.00
YoY Change+2.8%
Year2010
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$300.30
YoY Change+1.8%
Year2011
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$308.80
YoY Change+2.8%
Year2012
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$315.00
YoY Change+2.0%
Year2013
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$322.00
YoY Change+2.2%
Year2014
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$328.50
YoY Change+2.0%
Year2015
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$336.20
YoY Change+2.3%
Year2016
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$344.50
YoY Change+2.5%
Year2017
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$354.10
YoY Change+2.8%
Year2018
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$364.80
YoY Change+3.0%
Year2019
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$375.20
YoY Change+2.9%
Year2020
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$381.70
YoY Change+1.7%
Year2021
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$390.50
YoY Change+2.3%
Year2022
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$402.80
YoY Change+3.1%
Year2023
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$420.50
YoY Change+4.4%
Year2024
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$435.20
YoY Change+3.5%
Year2025
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$448.00
YoY Change+2.9%
Sources & Methodology
Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for dental services (series CUUR0000SETA01). The index measures price changes for a fixed basket of dental services including exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, and orthodontics. The base period is 1982-84 = 100. Data prior to 1978 is available only at 5-year intervals and is interpolated for intervening years.
Primary source: BLS
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.