A useful estimate should tell you what is planned, what each service costs, what insurance may pay, and what you may owe. Here is how to review it before treatment begins.
Reviewed September 9, 2026 · About 5 minutesAsk for an itemized estimate that lists every procedure separately. Dental offices commonly use CDT procedure codes. The code, tooth number, surface, material, and fee help you compare the written plan with what the office explained.
The office fee is not the same as your final out-of-pocket cost. The estimate may show an allowed amount, deductible, plan payment, annual maximum, and patient portion. Insurance estimates are not guarantees, so verify major work with the plan directly.
A lower total may leave out a needed step, while a higher one may use a different material or include follow-up care. Ask both offices to explain the same teeth and procedures in writing before treating the numbers as comparable.