How Much Do Dental X-Rays Cost? Prices by Type and Location

Want to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape? A dental exam is an important way to discover visible issues affecting your oral health.¹ But to find out what's happening beneath the surface of your smile, you'll need dental X-rays.¹ With these images, your dentist can detect cavities, gum disease and other hidden troubles before they can cause bigger problems.²

Keep reading to learn about the different types and costs of dental X-rays, and how these images can help your dentist get a clearer picture of your oral health.

Why Dental X-Rays Are Important to Oral Health

Dental X-rays show dentists where your oral health stands, revealing issues before they reach the surface. With these images, your dentist can examine structures invisible to the naked eye, including your teeth roots, jawbones, sinuses and nerves. As such, dentists can use X-rays to diagnose a variety of oral health issues.³

Dental X-rays can help detect:³

• Abscesses (infections)
• Bone loss
• Cavities
• Cysts and tumors
• Decay beneath fillings
• Impacted teeth
• Unerupted teeth

In addition, dental X-rays may be taken to determine the need for treatments like braces, dentures or dental implants.³

How Much Do Dental X-Rays Cost?

The average cost of dental X-rays ranges from $30 to $750, depending on the type of dental X-ray and your geographical location.⁴

Average dental X-ray costs by location

If you're located in a state with a high cost of living, you may pay more for dental X-rays.⁴ For example, the average cost of dental X-rays in Alaska is $128, while the average cost of dental X-rays in Iowa is $90.⁴ Check out this chart of the average costs of dental X-rays in 10 different states.⁴

Average dental X-ray costs by type

Dental X-rays can either be intraoral (inside the mouth) or extraoral (outside the mouth). Intraoral X-rays are more common and provide the most detail. Extraoral X-rays reveal the teeth as well as the surrounding structures, such as the jaw and skull.⁵

Extraoral X-rays are typically more expensive than intraoral X-rays because they require costly specialized equipment.⁵ Check out the chart below of the average costs of dental X-rays by type.⁵

Intraoral X-rays

Intraoral X-rays include:⁵

• Bitewing. Also called a “checkup X-ray," a bitewing captures a small section of the upper and lower teeth. Your dentist may recommend four bitewing X-rays every six to 12 months to get a general overview of your teeth.
• Periapical. This dental X-ray concentrates on one or two teeth, revealing the entire tooth from root to crown. Typically, you will have two periapical X-rays of the front teeth taken every six to 12 months.
• Full-mouth series. Rather than taking individual bitewing or periapical X-rays, your dental office may take a series of full-mouth X-rays (FMX) instead. This set of 16 to 18 images typically includes four bitewings and 12 to 14 periapicals. Your dentist may require an FMX if you're a new patient.
• Occlusal. This type of X-ray shows an entire upper or lower dental arch and is typically done to determine the need for a filling or before orthodontic treatment. An occlusal X-ray can also reveal unerupted teeth, jawbone fractures, abscesses and lodged foreign objects.

Extraoral X-rays

Extraoral X-rays include:⁵

• Panoramic. This commonly performed X-ray reveals the relationship between the jaws and teeth, as well as airways such as the nasal cavities and sinuses. You may need a panoramic X-ray before implant placement or orthodontic work.
• Cephalometric projections (“ceph"). A ceph is typically taken before and after orthodontic treatment to help predict and reveal the outcome of tooth movement.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CT). Unlike other types of dental X-rays, cone-beam CT produces 3D images. These detailed images can be especially helpful before dental implant placement, wisdom tooth extraction and root canal treatment.

Are Dental X-Rays Covered by Dental Insurance?

Dental X-rays like routine bitewings or even full-mouth X-rays are typically covered by dental insurance because they're considered preventive care.⁵ And because X-rays are diagnostic tools, they may even be covered as part of therapeutic or cosmetic treatment.⁵ Just be sure to go to a dentist that accepts your insurance plan.

Keep in mind that you may be responsible for a copay of $5 to $50 for dental X-rays, depending on your plan.⁶ Your insurance plan may also limit the number of dental X-rays it covers.⁴ For instance, you may be covered for seven bitewings per year and one panoramic X-ray every three years.⁴ Check with your dental insurance provider to learn the details of your plan.

Cost-Saving Options for Dental X-Rays

If you don't have dental insurance, you may want to consider options for free or low-cost dental X-rays, including:

• Dental schools. In some dental school clinics, supervised students provide low-cost dental treatment.⁷
• Public dental clinics. Public clinics and health centers offer low-cost dental care based on income. Some have low fixed prices, such as $15 for a full set of dental X-rays for children.⁷
• Donated dental services. The nonprofit Dental Lifeline Network® offers free comprehensive dental care for adults with special needs across the U.S.⁸

What to Expect During Your Dental X-Rays

X-rays will typically be taken by a dental technician before your cleaning.⁹ Here's what the technician may do:⁹

1. Cover your chest with a lead apron and wrap a thyroid collar around your neck¹⁰
2. Position an X-ray machine near your head
3. Place an X-ray sensor or film in your mouth¹⁰
4. Instruct you to hold still
5. Step outside the room to record the images
6. Adjust the X-ray sensor or film for the next set of images
7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 until all X-rays are completed

The whole process usually takes less than five minutes.⁶ While dental X-rays should not be painful, they may feel awkward and uncomfortable.¹⁰ If biting on the X-ray film makes you gag, you may find relief by breathing slowly and deeply through your nose.¹¹

Traditional vs. Digital Dental X-Rays

If your dental office takes traditional X-rays, the film will be developed in a darkroom. If your dental office takes digital X-rays, the images will be sent directly to a computer for viewing.²

Here's why many dentists have made the switch from traditional film to digital imaging:

• No wait time. Digital imaging allows your dental team to bypass the traditional darkroom processing style and view X-rays on a computer right away.²
• Simple adjustments. If traditional X-rays come out too light or dark, they need to be retaken. But digital X-ray images can be adjusted on the computer for optimal viewing.¹⁰
• Ability to zoom. Dentists can zoom in and out of digital images, and even create larger images to focus on key areas.¹⁰
• Easy comparisons. Using computer software, dentists can compare current dental X-rays to previous ones via subtraction radiography. This technique removes everything that's the same between the two images, leaving only what has changed.²
• Accessibility. Digital images can be sent electronically to another dentist or specialist if needed.²
• Less radiation. Most importantly, digital dental X-rays use 80% to 90% less radiation than traditional dental X-rays.³

Dental Financing With the CareCredit Credit Card

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn't cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Robyn Tellefsen is a freelance writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, finance and more. Her work has appeared on sites such as LoopNet, Beachside Rehab, First Horizon Bank, SoFi, A Place for Mom, American Express, Chase and more.