Root Canal Costs

Root canals cost a lot of money. The reasons are that some of the files and drills required are diamond head and cost $100+ each. You pay for the specialized equipment, time and expertise of the dentist.

A molar root canal can cost $800 to $1000 or more depending upon where you live and the tooth being treated. Front teeth are less expensive than back molar teeth because they contain less roots, therefore less work and treatment time.

Prices vary from city to city and dentist to dentist. You can ask your dentist for an actual amount.

For example, in my city, these are the current price ranges:

Some dentist have a standard fee, and some charge depending upon how many roots are in the tooth.

Root canal therapy is covered by most dental insurances. Most dental insurance consider it a ‘basic’ service and cover it at 50% to 80% of Usual and Customary charges. You can call your insurance company and see what kind of coverage you have.

The ADA (American Dental Association) dental insurance code for root canal therapy is as follows (as of 2007):

  It sometimes helps to know the tooth number when talking to your insurance company about the price.

(Teeth are numbered 1-32, with #1 being the top right wisdom tooth, going toward the front to # 2-16, dropping down to the lower left wisdom tooth as # 17 across the front to # 32 wisdom tooth on lower right.)

You can ask the dentist or Endodontist how much the charge is and your insurance company can tell you if it falls within the ‘reasonable and customary’ amount for your insurance. They can also tell you your percentage of coverage.

Please note that Endodontists usually have their own payment policies that can differ from your general dentist, such as payment required at time of treatment. Ask questions before your appointment if this is a concern.

Root canal cost is high, but it is less than getting the tooth pulled and having a replacement crown, bridge, or dental implant installed in the vacant spot of the pulled tooth, which is explained in the aritcle, "Root Canal Alternatives".