Root Canal Cost: What Affects the Price and What Comes After

What affects the cost of a root canal?

The biggest factors are the type of tooth and how complex its canals are. The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) explains that front teeth are generally less costly to treat, while molars with multiple canals take more time and technique.

Treatment involves cleaning out the inflamed or infected pulp inside the tooth, then filling and sealing the space. You can read the full process on our root canal treatment page.

• Which tooth. Front teeth are generally simpler to treat. Molars in the back have multiple canals, which takes more time.
• Canal complexity. The AAE says curved, narrow or extra canals, severe infection and retreatment of an earlier root canal may need more advanced techniques and time.
• The restoration afterward. The AAE notes the final cost depends partly on the type of restoration needed, such as a filling or a crown.
• Imaging. X-rays are taken to see the roots before treatment. Our office has added digital X-rays and 3D imaging.
• Where you live. The AAE says costs vary by region, so national figures may not match what you’ll see locally.

Do I need a crown after a root canal?

Often, yes, especially for back teeth. The AAE says molars and premolars do most of the chewing and generally need crowns after a root canal to protect them and restore their function.

Front teeth sometimes need only a permanent filling. The ADA’s MouthHealthy site says your dentist replaces the temporary filling with a permanent filling or a crown, and a small post may be placed in the canal to help support it.

Plan for the crown when you budget. Cleveland Clinic notes that most people need two more visits after the root canal itself: one to prepare the tooth and one to place the crown. Learn more about dental crowns.

Don’t put the crown off. The AAE advises avoiding chewing on the treated tooth until it has been fully restored with a crown or permanent filling.

Is it better to just pull a tooth or get a root canal?

When a tooth can be saved, a root canal is usually the better long-term value. The AAE says pulling a tooth may look less expensive at first, but it rarely ends there, because a missing tooth typically needs an implant or bridge to restore chewing.

Replacing a tooth also adds visits. The AAE notes that implants involve surgery and several months of healing, and that spaces left by pulled teeth can let other teeth shift.

To be fair, not every tooth can be saved. Cleveland Clinic notes that if an infection is too severe, a dentist may need to remove the tooth. When that happens, options include dental implants and dental bridges, and our guide to dental implant cost explains what shapes that price.

Does dental insurance cover root canals?

Many plans cover part of root canal treatment, but you’ll usually pay some of the cost yourself. The AAE explains that coverage means the plan pays part, the patient pays the remaining balance, and pre-authorization may be required before treatment begins.

Your plan’s annual limit matters, too. The ADA’s MouthHealthy site explains that this is the most your plan will pay in a plan year, so a root canal and a crown in the same year can use a large share of it.

Golden Triangle Dentistry works with most dental insurance plans, including most PPOs and the UFCW member dental plan. See our dental insurance page. Many dental benefits renew at the end of the year, and our team is happy to help you use yours before then. Questions to ask your plan:

• How much of a root canal does my plan pay on a front tooth, premolar or molar?
• Is the crown afterward covered, and at what level?
• Do I need pre-authorization?
• How much of my annual limit is left this year?

What happens if you need a root canal but can’t afford it?

Talk with your dentist before you decide to wait. The ADA’s MouthHealthy site warns that an untreated pulp infection can cause pain, swelling and an abscess, and can eventually lead to losing the tooth, which can cost more to fix later.

Ask about payment options. Our office accepts cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and CareCredit, and we’re adding more payment choices, with flexible financing options. Visit our dental financing page to learn more.

If you use a healthcare credit card or payment plan, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests checking whether a 0% offer uses deferred interest. With deferred interest, if the balance isn’t paid in full on time, interest can be charged on the whole amount you borrowed. It also suggests reading when fees apply and checking your insurance first.

When is it too late to avoid a root canal?

Once bacteria reach the pulp and it becomes infected or badly inflamed, a root canal or removing the tooth is usually needed. Cleveland Clinic says bacteria can reach the pulp through a deep cavity or a cracked tooth.

That’s why early care matters for your budget. Cleveland Clinic explains that once a cavity forms, a dentist removes the decay and fills the hole, and that regular checkups are the way to catch cavities before they grow. A small cavity can often be fixed with a tooth-colored filling.

Watch for warning signs. Cleveland Clinic lists pain when chewing, a pimple-like bump on the gums, a darkened tooth, tender gums and a swollen jaw. If you have a toothache that won’t go away, call us.

Can I get a root canal at Golden Triangle Dentistry?

Root canal treatment is coming to our office. As Dr. Neff’s letter to our patients shares, root canal treatment will be available right here, so you won’t need to travel to another office.

You’ll see the same caring team in the same Murrieta office, with updated technology that includes 3D imaging and digital X-rays. If dental visits make you nervous, let us know. Comfort touches like blankets and nitrous oxide for anxious patients have been part of our care, and our dental anxiety and comfort page explains more.

To ask about cost for your tooth, call (951) 677-1054, and our team will answer that.

Questions & answers

Common questions