Dentists in Houston

Delta Dental's national figures give you a starting point; ask a Houston office for its own fee schedule before you book. A standard cleaning without dental benefits averages $85 to $160. Without insurance, tooth-colored fillings average $145 to $480 for front teeth and $165 to $530 for back teeth, and silver amalgam fillings $110 to $455 (2024 data). An out-of-network permanent crown averages $1,100 to $2,000 (2023 data).

Houston dental school clinics

At UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (713-486-4000), students treat patients under faculty supervision. The urgent care exam fee is $32, and the school says most urgent treatment fees come in under $200. Ask the clinic how new-patient screening works, how long visits take and which treatments students take on.

The full Texas guide to dental costs and checks is on the Texas dentists guide.

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners licenses dentists, hygienists, registered dental assistants and dental labs. Its Public License Search shows a license's status and any public disciplinary actions. Every Texas dental office must also post a TSBDE consumer information sign where patients can see it.

Specialists and general dentists in Houston

Texas recognizes 12 dental specialties, including orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. A dentist may advertise as a specialist only after an accredited specialty program of two or more years or board certification, and a practice must not imply that its general dentists are specialists. License certificates don't show specialty recognition, so ask where the dentist trained.

Hygienists clean teeth, take X-rays and can give local anesthetic under a dentist's authorization, but they can't diagnose or prescribe. A dentist can delegate your cleaning if they examined you within the previous 12 months, and doesn't have to be on the premises.

Texas hygienists may also work under a supervising dentist in alternate settings such as nursing homes, patients' homes, schools, hospitals and public health clinics, If you care for a relative at home or in a Houston nursing home, ask a practice whether it offers visits outside the office.

Most Texans 20 and younger on Medicaid or CHIP get dental care through a managed care dental plan: DentaQuest, MCNA Dental or UnitedHealthcare Dental. Texas Health Steps helps families find a dentist at 1-877-847-8377, Monday through Friday.

DSHS's Title V Maternal and Child Health program covers dental care for eligible people 21 and younger who don't have Medicaid or CHIP. For adults, DSHS points people to 2-1-1 and to federally qualified health centers, some of which offer dental services.

Fluoride is the other public piece. About 72% of Texans, some 19.6 million people, drink water that is adjusted or naturally fluoridated. For Houston's own level, check the annual water quality report from Houston Public Works or your utility district, and mention it to your dentist when you discuss children's fluoride.

This page explains how dental care is organized, not what treatment you need. Ask a licensed Texas dentist about your own care.

TSBDE investigates complaints about quality of care, sanitation, professional conduct and patient abandonment. Complaints go on its form by email to complaints@tsbde.texas.gov, fax or mail, and anonymous complaints aren't accepted.

The board doesn't handle fee disputes, and it can order restitution only in limited cases where care fell below the standard, up to your out-of-pocket treatment cost. Ask for a written treatment plan with fees before work starts.

In southeast Houston, see dentists in Clear Lake; south of the city, dentists in Pearland. The Houston local guide covers city services.