According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dental services are 786.90% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $786.90 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Dental services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.75% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dental services costing $100 in the year 1979 would cost $886.90 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for dental services was higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 8.43%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for dental services during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for dental services was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Dental services, over time, for $100 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $100.00 | 8.43% |
| 1980 | $111.80 | 11.80% |
| 1981 | $122.51 | 9.58% |
| 1982 | $132.02 | 7.76% |
| 1983 | $140.88 | 6.71% |
| 1984 | $152.33 | 8.12% |
| 1985 | $161.94 | 6.31% |
| 1986 | $170.99 | 5.59% |
| 1987 | $182.52 | 6.74% |
| 1988 | $194.94 | 6.81% |
| 1989 | $207.02 | 6.19% |
| 1990 | $220.81 | 6.66% |
| 1991 | $237.31 | 7.47% |
| 1992 | $253.26 | 6.72% |
| 1993 | $266.62 | 5.27% |
| 1994 | $279.38 | 4.78% |
| 1995 | $293.18 | 4.94% |
| 1996 | $306.91 | 4.68% |
| 1997 | $321.20 | 4.66% |
| 1998 | $334.79 | 4.23% |
| 1999 | $350.45 | 4.68% |
| 2000 | $366.44 | 4.56% |
| 2001 | $381.28 | 4.05% |
| 2002 | $398.35 | 4.48% |
| 2003 | $414.66 | 4.10% |
| 2004 | $435.03 | 4.91% |
| 2005 | $459.25 | 5.57% |
| 2006 | $483.14 | 5.20% |
| 2007 | $508.03 | 5.15% |
| 2008 | $534.18 | 5.15% |
| 2009 | $550.15 | 2.99% |
| 2010 | $565.21 | 2.74% |
| 2011 | $578.36 | 2.33% |
| 2012 | $591.72 | 2.31% |
| 2013 | $611.99 | 3.42% |
| 2014 | $625.10 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $640.94 | 2.53% |
| 2016 | $659.16 | 2.84% |
| 2017 | $669.84 | 1.62% |
| 2018 | $688.20 | 2.74% |
| 2019 | $703.27 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | $724.42 | 3.01% |
| 2021 | $740.61 | 2.23% |
| 2022 | $770.70 | 4.06% |
| 2023 | $814.05 | 5.63% |
| 2024 | $848.97 | 4.29% |
| 2025 | $870.98 | 2.59% |
| 2026 | $886.90 | 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 |