A new-patient visit usually pairs a full exam with X-rays so the dentist can see the whole picture. Price it below and add a 3D scan if your case calls for one. Most plans cover preventive care like this, and the estimate shows what to expect.
Your estimate
Updated 2026-07-06$125 typical ($70 to $250)
Medium confidenceBased on 2026 clinic guides (MySmile, InStyle, Meadowbrook): comprehensive/new-patient exam $100-$250 (2026-06). Updated 2026-07-06.
What is included
- New-patient comprehensive exam$125
With insurance
Monthly payment example
About $10/mo over 12 months or $5/mo over 24 months. Just an example, based on a 0% promo plan and the typical estimate. This is not an offer, and the real terms and approval depend on the lender.
This is an estimate, not a quote or a treatment offer, and not medical or financial advice. The figures are modeled from public sources and shown as ranges with a date and a confidence level. For a real number, ask your dentist for a written treatment plan and check coverage with your own plan.
Dental exam costs
Exam and X-ray costs
A comprehensive new-patient exam usually costs about $125, bitewing X-rays add about $60, and the exam-plus-X-rays bundle lands around $275, with most first visits running $150 to $400 in cash before any cleaning. A returning-patient periodic exam costs less, usually about $85. Pick the exam type in the calculator, and only add a 3D scan if your case actually calls for one.
The three exam types
A comprehensive new-patient exam is the full workup: complete charting, gum measurements, an oral cancer screening, and a review of your history, which is why it costs the most. A periodic exam is the shorter recheck you get at routine visits. A limited or problem-focused exam zeroes in on one urgent thing, like a toothache, and is priced for that. In every case, the X-rays are billed separately.
When a 3D CBCT scan enters the picture
Not for a regular checkup. A CBCT is a 3D image used to plan surgery: implants, complex extractions like wisdom teeth, and some root canals. It usually costs about $300 on its own, with quotes running roughly $150 to $600, and implant offices sometimes fold it into the case fee. If you're here pricing out an implant workup, add the CBCT in the calculator and check the implant page for the rest.
Exams and X-rays with insurance
Almost always in full. Exams and routine X-rays are preventive care, which most plans cover at 100 percent without touching your deductible or annual maximum, usually twice a year for exams and on a set schedule for each type of X-ray. If you've got coverage, your checkup is very likely free, and the calculator's insurance option shows it.
Common questions
How much are dental X-rays on their own?
Bitewings usually run about $60, a panoramic about $130, and a full-mouth series about $150, before you add any exam fee.
Are dental exams free with insurance?
Usually, yes. Exams and routine X-rays are preventive care, and most plans cover them at 100 percent on a set schedule without touching your deductible or annual maximum.
How often do I need new X-rays?
It's on a schedule that depends on the X-ray type and your risk level, commonly yearly for bitewings and every few years for a full series. Your dentist sets it, and plans cover on matching schedules.