The Cost of Dentistry: Challenges for Private Practitioners
By Dr. Lori Matturro, D.D.S.
About the author: Dr. Lori Matturro, D.D.S., has been a volunteer dentist with Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals (CCMP) since 2004. In that time, she has donated non-emergency dental care to CCMP’s benefit recipients on a monthly basis, and provided her insight into how the for-profit healthcare system has been increasingly targeting independent dental practices. She runs two private practices, one in Maspeth, Queens and the second in Levittown, in Nassau County on Long Island.
As a private practice dentist, I am committed to providing high-quality, personalized care to my patients. However, the cost of doing dentistry presents significant challenges, especially when striving to offer services at reasonable rates. Dentistry involves substantial expenses, from purchasing sophisticated dental equipment and materials to maintaining a sterile and welcoming environment. For instance, the average cost to provide a dental crown ranges upwards of $1,200, while a root canal can cost nearly $2000. These costs reflect the high standards of care and precision required in dental procedures.
One of the growing concerns in our field is the reduction of employer-sponsored dental insurance. Many employers are eliminating dental benefits to cut costs, leaving employees without coverage.
This trend has a direct impact on patients’ oral health. Without insurance, many individuals forgo regular dental visits, leading to untreated dental issues that can escalate into more serious health problems. According to the American Dental Association, about 74 million Americans lack dental coverage, which is more than double the number of those without health insurance.
The absence of regular dental care can result in significant oral health issues. Routine check-ups and cleanings are essential for preventing cavities, gum disease and other dental problems.When these issues are left untreated, they can lead to more severe conditions, such as infections and tooth loss, which are not only painful but also costly to treat.
As a dentist who also volunteers to provide free dental care to uninsured and low-income individuals, I see firsthand the importance of accessible dental services. The financial barriers many face highlight the need for more comprehensive dental coverage and support for preventive care. By addressing these challenges, we can improve oral health outcomes and ensure that everyone has access to the dental care they need.
While the cost of dentistry is high, the value of maintaining good oral health is immeasurable.It is crucial for both private practitioners and the broader community to advocate for better dental coverage and support systems to ensure that all patients receive the care they deserve.
Editor’s Note: CCMP sees the impact of unaffordable dental care every day as our advocates and members work with benefit recipients who work on jobs that do not provide dental insurance, or jobs where insurance is offered but is unaffordable. Benefit recipients in the last year alone included a union warehouse worker whose insurance wouldn’t cover the dentures he needed and a retired nurse on Medicare. Increasingly, dentists also face the cost of massive student debt. As of 2025, the cost of a four-year program at NYU Dental School (where 10% of the nation’s dentists train) is now up to $461,304—not including any costs of living in New York City like housing, food or transportation. With the cost of living estimated by NYU itself, the true cost of the four-year program is closer to $648,784 (NYU Dental School).
As fewer dentists can afford to operate a private practice, more offices are being bought up by private equity firms. The American Dental Association (ADA) reported in 2024 that private equity purchases of dental practices increased nine-fold between 2011 and 2021 (“Percentage Of Dentists And Dental Practices Affiliated With Private Equity Nearly Doubled, 2015–21”). A 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) associated private equity buyouts of health practices with worse heath outcomes and increased health complications.
CCMP knows that neither dentists nor patients can solve the problem of costly dental care on their own. Our volunteer dentists, doctors and other health professionals unite with care recipients and concerned citizens to both offer a free-of-charge non-emergency dental benefit and to learn the skills of organizing a movement to demand comprehensive healthcare as a human right. CCMP urgently needs more dental specialists, dental advocates and organizers to take on training programs. To get involved, call (718) 469- 5817 today and ask for CCMP’s Benefit Coordinator, Subha.