According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dental services are 2,954.72% higher in 2026 versus 1949 (a $2,954.72 difference in value).
Between 1949 and 2026:Dental services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.54% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dental services costing $100 in the year 1949 would cost $3,054.72 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation for dental services was higher.
In the year 1949: Pricing changed by 4.51%, which is below the average yearly change for dental services during the 1949-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1949 (-0.97%), inflation for dental services was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Dental services, over time, for $100 beginning in 1949. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | $100.00 | 4.51% |
| 1950 | $102.28 | 2.28% |
| 1951 | $106.02 | 3.66% |
| 1952 | $108.46 | 2.30% |
| 1953 | $111.84 | 3.11% |
| 1954 | $115.83 | 3.56% |
| 1955 | $117.01 | 1.02% |
| 1956 | $119.12 | 1.81% |
| 1957 | $121.93 | 2.36% |
| 1958 | $125.71 | 3.10% |
| 1959 | $128.89 | 2.52% |
| 1960 | $131.65 | 2.15% |
| 1961 | $132.18 | 0.40% |
| 1962 | $135.39 | 2.43% |
| 1963 | $139.63 | 3.12% |
| 1964 | $142.19 | 1.84% |
| 1965 | $147.03 | 3.40% |
| 1966 | $152.03 | 3.40% |
| 1967 | $159.72 | 5.06% |
| 1968 | $168.39 | 5.43% |
| 1969 | $180.96 | 7.47% |
| 1970 | $191.25 | 5.69% |
| 1971 | $203.58 | 6.45% |
| 1972 | $212.04 | 4.16% |
| 1973 | $218.59 | 3.09% |
| 1974 | $235.27 | 7.63% |
| 1975 | $259.44 | 10.27% |
| 1976 | $276.16 | 6.45% |
| 1977 | $296.83 | 7.48% |
| 1978 | $317.66 | 7.02% |
| 1979 | $344.43 | 8.43% |
| 1980 | $385.07 | 11.80% |
| 1981 | $421.97 | 9.58% |
| 1982 | $454.72 | 7.76% |
| 1983 | $485.23 | 6.71% |
| 1984 | $524.65 | 8.12% |
| 1985 | $557.77 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $588.93 | 5.59% |
| 1987 | $628.64 | 6.74% |
| 1988 | $671.44 | 6.81% |
| 1989 | $713.02 | 6.19% |
| 1990 | $760.54 | 6.66% |
| 1991 | $817.37 | 7.47% |
| 1992 | $872.29 | 6.72% |
| 1993 | $918.31 | 5.27% |
| 1994 | $962.25 | 4.78% |
| 1995 | $1,009.80 | 4.94% |
| 1996 | $1,057.08 | 4.68% |
| 1997 | $1,106.31 | 4.66% |
| 1998 | $1,153.09 | 4.23% |
| 1999 | $1,207.04 | 4.68% |
| 2000 | $1,262.12 | 4.56% |
| 2001 | $1,313.22 | 4.05% |
| 2002 | $1,372.01 | 4.48% |
| 2003 | $1,428.19 | 4.10% |
| 2004 | $1,498.37 | 4.91% |
| 2005 | $1,581.77 | 5.57% |
| 2006 | $1,664.08 | 5.20% |
| 2007 | $1,749.79 | 5.15% |
| 2008 | $1,839.87 | 5.15% |
| 2009 | $1,894.84 | 2.99% |
| 2010 | $1,946.73 | 2.74% |
| 2011 | $1,992.03 | 2.33% |
| 2012 | $2,038.05 | 2.31% |
| 2013 | $2,107.84 | 3.42% |
| 2014 | $2,153.00 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $2,207.56 | 2.53% |
| 2016 | $2,270.33 | 2.84% |
| 2017 | $2,307.10 | 1.62% |
| 2018 | $2,370.34 | 2.74% |
| 2019 | $2,422.26 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | $2,495.10 | 3.01% |
| 2021 | $2,550.85 | 2.23% |
| 2022 | $2,654.48 | 4.06% |
| 2023 | $2,803.82 | 5.63% |
| 2024 | $2,924.09 | 4.29% |
| 2025 | $2,999.89 | 2.59% |
| 2026 | $3,054.72 | 1.83%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Dental services:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 18.780 | 19.600 | 20.483 | 20.950 | 21.717 | 22.217 | 22.908 | 23.725 | 23.967 | 24.400 | 24.975 | 25.750 | 26.400 | 26.967 | 27.075 | 27.733 | 28.600 | 29.125 | 30.117 | 31.142 | 32.717 | 34.492 | 37.067 | 39.175 | 41.700 | 43.433 | 44.775 | 48.192 | 53.142 | 56.567 | 60.800 | 65.067 | 70.550 | 78.875 | 86.433 | 93.142 | 99.392 | 107.467 | 114.250 | 120.633 | 128.767 | 137.533 | 146.050 | 155.783 | 167.425 | 178.675 | 188.100 | 197.100 | 206.842 | 216.525 | 226.608 | 236.192 | 247.242 | 258.525 | 268.992 | 281.033 | 292.542 | 306.917 | 324.000 | 340.858 | 358.415 | 376.867 | 388.127 | 398.755 | 408.034 | 417.461 | 431.757 | 441.005 | 452.182 | 465.039 | 472.571 | 485.525 | 496.160 | 511.079 | 522.500 | 543.726 | 574.315 | 598.951 | 614.478 | 625.709 |