Hello-  I have some sincere questions...which searching archived
discussions don't seem to answer.  Sorry if I've simply missed them.

My problem -how can I get a ballpark estimate of costs before
committing to the expense of an exam / xray appointment?  Sure, I
understand "it depends"  and if there's anything beyond the two
cavities I know about there could be a whole range of choices and
costs.  There seem to be hundreds of dentists in offices near my home,
but the dozen I've called will tell me what an office visit costs, but
won't advise what price range "standard" fillings fall within.  Not
wanting to be pushy, or to misuse information (eg. the receptionist
told me fillings only cost $X).  But as a typical consumer (albeit
without insurance) isn't it reasonable to have "some idea" of costs
without "paying for the quote?"   Is there available some kind of
"reasonable and customary" fee schedule, such as those used by
insurance companies, that can be reviewed by members of the
public...without me hassling dental offices on the phone?

1.  How should an uninsured consumer best navigate the world of dental
providers in their community if the financial aspect is a major
limiting concern?  I'm not looking for "the world's greatest dentist"
but it would be nice to have the rough financial component to include
(along with education, convenience of location, or any referral
testimonials).  Is the unwillingness to disclose cost info an
anachronistic  "mystique of the guild" habit, a anti-competitive
strategy, or simply self-defense?  I called the office of my last
dentist (10 years since last visit, but I'm now living 50 miles away)
and now that I'm uninsured, they are similarly unwilling to discuss any
costs before I'm xrayed and examined.

2.  I recognize that the 1-800-Dentist type services which advertise
themselves as providing valuable info to consumers are merely a clever
advertising medium for dentists (not knocking, just saying).

3.  How widely do charges vary within a small local area?

I'm not trying to use pricing info manipulatively, or denigrate any
professionals choices about how they deal with customers.  But I *am*
planning to be a customer, and after spending a couple hundred dollars
(exam / xrays)  how can I even know if their estimated costs for the
following procedures (which I'm assuming now are going to be fillings
on two small caries on the front surface of two front teeth, right at
the gumline) are "reasonable and customary?"  Without getting exams
from each second opinion?

In the past, while insured, it was somewhat off-putting how many
different fee scales my dentist seemed to use- different prices
depending on type of insurance, and significantly discounted prices for
cash customers.  All of this suggests there *is* a minimum net price
which each dentist accepts, and I don't resent their wanting to at
least maintain, if not enhance their income.