How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

What you are paying for

What goes into the cost of a root canal

A root canal typically runs from about $700 to $1,500 without insurance, with $1,000 a common middle figure. That fee mostly buys skilled chair time: one long appointment or two shorter ones, the anesthetic, the X-rays taken before, during and after, the single-use files and disinfecting solutions, and the material that fills the canals. What surprises many people is what the quoted fee leaves out. The exam and diagnostic X-ray may be billed separately, and the crown or permanent filling that rebuilds the tooth afterward is almost always its own charge, one that can match or exceed the root canal itself. Ask whether an estimate includes the final restoration, the core buildup under the crown and any follow-up visit, so you are comparing the cost of the whole tooth and not just one line.

Ways the bill can come down

Start by asking for a written estimate that lists the root canal, buildup and crown separately, with their billing codes, so you can check each against your plan before treatment. If you have insurance, find out how much of your annual maximum is left, and ask the dentist whether the timing of the crown allows the two charges to fall in different benefit years. Dental schools with endodontic programs treat patients at reduced fees, with longer appointments. Community health centers may charge on a sliding scale, and many offices offer payment plans. What does not save money is waiting. An untreated infection can spread or cost you the tooth, and replacing a tooth usually costs more than saving it.

Table 1 — Factors that affect root canal cost

Factors That Affect Root Canal Cost

1. 01

   Which tooth is being treated

   Front teeth usually have a single canal and sit at the low end of the range. Premolars fall in the middle. Molars have several canals, some curved or hard to find, so they take more time and cost more.

2. 02

   General dentist or endodontist

   An endodontist is a root canal specialist who often works with an operating microscope and three-dimensional imaging. Specialist fees are typically higher, and a dentist may refer you there for molars, curved roots or a repeat treatment.

3. 03

   First treatment or retreatment

   Redoing an earlier root canal means removing the old filling material, and sometimes a post, before the canals can be cleaned again. That extra work usually pushes the fee above a first-time treatment on the same tooth.

4. 04

   Difficult canals

   Calcified or very narrow canals, an extra canal, or a tooth that has to be treated through an existing crown all add time. Some offices charge more for these, while others quote one fee per tooth type.

5. 05

   The restoration afterward

   A core buildup, a post if little tooth is left, and a crown are separate items on the bill. Whether you need all three depends on how much sound tooth structure survives the decay.

6. 06

   Where you live

   Fees follow local rent and wages, so the same molar tends to cost more in a large, expensive city than in a small town a few hours away.

Table 2 — Payment options

Payment Options

• Dental Insurance

  Plans usually pay part of the cost of covered procedures after a deductible, up to an annual maximum. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate.

• Payment Plans

  Many dentists offer in-house financing or work with CareCredit.

• Dental Discount Plans

  A yearly membership that gives reduced fees at participating dentists. Not insurance; check what it covers.

• Dental Schools

  Dental school clinics charge lower fees for care by supervised students. Appointments take longer.