According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dental services are 827% higher in 2025 versus 1978 (a $827 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2025: Dental services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.85% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dental services costing $100 in the year 1978 would cost $927 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.43% during this same period, inflation for dental services was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.02%, which is above the average yearly change for dental services during the 1978-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for dental services was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Dental services, over time, for $100 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $100.00 | 7.02% |
| 1979 | $108.42 | 8.42% |
| 1980 | $121.22 | 11.81% |
| 1981 | $132.84 | 9.59% |
| 1982 | $143.14 | 7.75% |
| 1983 | $152.75 | 6.71% |
| 1984 | $165.16 | 8.13% |
| 1985 | $175.58 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $185.39 | 5.59% |
| 1987 | $197.90 | 6.75% |
| 1988 | $211.36 | 6.80% |
| 1989 | $224.46 | 6.20% |
| 1990 | $239.41 | 6.66% |
| 1991 | $257.30 | 7.47% |
| 1992 | $274.60 | 6.72% |
| 1993 | $289.08 | 5.27% |
| 1994 | $302.91 | 4.78% |
| 1995 | $317.87 | 4.94% |
| 1996 | $332.76 | 4.68% |
| 1997 | $348.26 | 4.66% |
| 1998 | $362.99 | 4.23% |
| 1999 | $379.96 | 4.68% |
| 2000 | $397.30 | 4.56% |
| 2001 | $413.39 | 4.05% |
| 2002 | $431.90 | 4.48% |
| 2003 | $449.58 | 4.09% |
| 2004 | $471.68 | 4.91% |
| 2005 | $497.93 | 5.57% |
| 2006 | $523.84 | 5.20% |
| 2007 | $550.82 | 5.15% |
| 2008 | $579.18 | 5.15% |
| 2009 | $596.48 | 2.99% |
| 2010 | $612.82 | 2.74% |
| 2011 | $627.08 | 2.33% |
| 2012 | $641.56 | 2.31% |
| 2013 | $663.53 | 3.42% |
| 2014 | $677.75 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $694.92 | 2.53% |
| 2016 | $714.68 | 2.84% |
| 2017 | $726.26 | 1.62% |
| 2018 | $746.17 | 2.74% |
| 2019 | $762.51 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | $785.44 | 3.01% |
| 2021 | $802.99 | 2.23% |
| 2022 | $835.61 | 4.06% |
| 2023 | $882.62 | 5.63% |
| 2024 | $920.48 | 4.29% |
| 2025 | $927.00 | 0.71%* |
* 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 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 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 |
| CPI | 13.400 | 13.400 | 13.700 | 13.800 | 13.800 | 13.800 | 13.800 | 14.200 | 14.800 | 15.600 | 16.300 | 17.200 | 18.850 | 19.780 | 20.540 | 21.040 | 21.840 | 22.300 | 23.060 | 23.760 | 24.000 | 24.480 | 25.060 | 25.880 | 26.480 | 27.000 | 27.120 | 27.880 | 28.680 | 29.467 | 30.375 | 31.360 | 32.960 | 34.740 | 37.069 | 39.177 | 41.700 | 43.431 | 44.777 | 48.192 | 53.146 | 56.562 | 60.800 | 65.069 | 70.546 | 78.877 | 86.438 | 93.138 | 99.392 | 107.469 | 114.246 | 120.631 | 128.769 | 137.531 | 146.054 | 155.785 | 167.423 | 178.677 | 188.100 | 197.100 | 206.838 | 216.523 | 226.608 | 236.192 | 247.238 | 258.523 | 268.992 | 281.031 | 292.538 | 306.915 | 324.000 | 340.862 | 358.415 | 376.867 | 388.127 | 398.756 | 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 | 603.189 |