Did you know that, according to the Canadian Dental Association, dentists and endodontists are now able to complete even the most complex of root canals because of advancements in techniques, equipment, radiographic imaging, and diagnosis?
If you need to have a root canal, then you’re probably curious about the cost of a root canal. You might be interested in typical costs, how costs vary across different procedures, and how much prices vary from province to province.
Trying to find all this information online and finally figure out how much you have to pay for your root canal procedure can be overwhelming. It can also be stressful if you urgently need root canal treatment but don’t know if you can afford it or not.
That’s why we’ve put together this article. Once you’ve learned about root canal costs, and how much they vary depending on the procedure, province, and who’s treating you, you’ll have a better understanding of the costs you will incur.
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How Much is a Typical Root Canal and Crown?
If you’re asking yourself the question, “What is the cost of a root canal and crown?” The answer is that this cost can vary depending on several factors. However, there is a range of how much it can cost. This range is between $500 to $6,000.
In addition to location and procedure type (which we’ll cover later in this article), there are other factors that can affect the cost of your root canal and crown.
These are the recurrences of your treatment, the location of your tooth, your case severity, the amount of experience your dentist has, the cost of the filling or crown, and additional fees. We’ll review these in detail now, ending this section with how much a root canal might cost you without insurance.
Recurrence of Your Treatment
If you have to have a root canal done twice, then it’s going to cost more the second time around. Usually, this added cost is 20% to 40% higher than the price of your original root canal. This is because, once the procedure has already been done once, the area is affected.
This makes the second procedure more complex than the first, which means you will be charged more by your dentist or endodontist because they’re putting in more work.
The Location of Your Tooth
Differently-located teeth have a different number of roots. Front teeth usually have one root, while those in the back of your mouth (your molars) have three roots. The more roots, the more expensive the root canal procedure.
Your Case Severity
If you have a serious case, then it may not only be a root canal that you need. If the infection and decay have worsened, then it may turn out that you need a whole tooth removed. If this happens, then you’ll be paying more than you would for an ordinary root canal procedure.
Your Dentist’s Experience
If your dentist has more experience, then they’re likely to charge you more for your root canal procedure. This might be up to 20% to 40% more than what you would usually pay. If you want a high-quality treatment but can’t afford it, we recommend you find a dentist with less experience who has good reviews from happy customers.
The Cost of the Filling or Crown
Often when you get a root canal, you finish the procedure by getting a filling or crown. Costs can range between $500 and $3,000. The reason this is such a large range is that the cost depends on what material it’s made from. The price goes up for fillings, depending on if your filling is made from porcelain, metal, or a combination of both.
As for dental fillings, the cost range is between $90 to $300.
Additional Fees
There might be additional fees you pay for that are related to your root canal. These include consultation fees (which we’ll cover later on when discussing the difference between costs of going to a dentist versus an endodontist), emergency fees, and x-rays.
When attending your original consultation, you can ask your dentist about how much these fees will add up to.
With or Without Insurance
Another factor that impacts the cost of your root canal procedure and crown insertion is insurance. Given that Canada’s government-provided health insurance doesn’t cover dental procedures (except for people on social assistance and children who are considered from low income families), you might not have insurance. Without insurance, a root canal in Canada usually costs around $1,000.
Companies like Manulife understand that a footing an unexpected thousand dollar bill is difficult for many, so they offer plans like Combo Plus Enhanced which covers 60% of the first $1250 of your procedure. While this plan covers a portion of the cost of dental surgery, such as a root canal, keep in mind it also provides coverages for routine dental care; which if done regularly, can prevent the onset of a root canal altogether. This particular plan is just one option of several to consider when shopping for dental insurance. Connecting with a company like Insurdinary really helps to take the guess work out of shopping for dental plans.
If investing in dental insurance is completely out of the question, there are some ways to save. These strategies include:
- Using a dental discount card
- Comparing different costs of dentists near you before scheduling your root canal, so that you can find the most affordable option
- Asking to get a discount by paying in cash or in one payment
- Inquiring whether dentists near you have installment plans, so you can pay for the procedure at a rate that works for you financially
- Looking for organizations near you that provide discounted dental care or free dental care
- Researching dental and endodontic schools near you, where you might be able to get free or discounted treatments
However, if you think you might have serious dental problems in the future, or if they run in your family, then you should consider investing in dental insurance. This way, you can offset your root canal and any other treatments you may require in the future.
Root Canal Procedure
Costs of your root canal procedure also vary depending on which type of procedure you need. These procedures include the molars procedure, the bicuspids procedure, and the front teeth procedure. We’ll review these now in detail, so you can have an idea of how much you’ll pay depending on which type of tooth requires the procedure.
Molars Procedure
If you’re getting a root canal procedure done on one of your molars, then this procedure will be quite expensive. This is because there are three roots in each molar. The range of a molar root canal procedure cost is $500 to $2,000.
Even though this is the general range, you’ll probably end up paying between $1,000 and $1,300.
Bicuspids Procedure
Bicuspids are in the mid-range cost when it comes to the root canal procedure. The general price range is between $400 and $1,800. Usually, you’ll end up paying between $900 and $1,100. These are a little easier to remove than molars, but more difficult to remove than front teeth, which is why the price is mid-range.
Front Teeth Procedure
A front teeth root canal procedure will be the least expensive. This is because they have fewer roots and are closer to the front of your mouth, which makes them easier to remove. Generally speaking, a front tooth procedure ranges between $300 and $1,500.
You can expect to pay somewhere between $900 and $1,100.
Root Canal Costs by Dentists vs Endodontists
So how much does a root canal cost if you're having the procedure done by a dentist versus an endodontist? In this section, we’ll review what the different costs will be, as well as why you might go to a dentist or an endodontist.
Going to a Dentist
If you’re visiting a dentist for your root canal procedure, this will be less expensive. Generally speaking, the cost is just under $1,000. A front tooth procedure may cost as little as $745.
You may also incur a consultation fee. What might end up happening, if your case is more severe than you think it is, is that they’ll refer you to an endodontist. If this happens, you’ll end up paying consultation fees for both appointments.
For this reason, if you think your root canal procedure might be complicated, we recommend going straight to an endodontist if you can afford it.
Going to an Endodontist
Going to an endodontist for your root canal procedure is a little more expensive. This is because endodontists have more experience than dentists. Additionally, they specialize in the pulp and root areas, which are the parts of your mouth being treated during a root canal procedure.
The Cost of Root Canal vs Tooth Extraction
In some cases, a dentist may determine that you need a tooth extraction as opposed to a root canal. Whether or not this happens depends on the severity of your case. If your tooth can still be saved and you merely need to improve the state of the pulp in your mouth, you can get a root canal procedure.
However, if your tooth endangers the health of the rest of your tooth because it’s far too rotted or infected, you’ll need to have your tooth extracted. This is because it’s a more complicated procedure.
Generally speaking, a root canal costs more than a tooth extraction. However, if you’re able to save your tooth, you should. For this reason, root canals are popular—even though there may be additional costs if you have to get the procedure done a second time or your tooth removed later on.
Root Canal Costs Per Province
Each province has a dental fee guide provided to them by the government.
This dental fee guide provides dentists and endodontists with guidance on how much they should be generally charging per procedure. Samples of the suggested costs are:
- British Columbia: $200 to $1200+
- Alberta: $690 to $1177+
- Ontario: $612 to $1368+
- Nova Scotia: $445 to $1,034+
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $500 to $2000+
Keep in mind, however, that these are guidelines. For this reason, you might end up paying more than what the government recommends. If you want to save money, consider asking dentists when making appointments if they follow the guidance provided by the government.
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Take me thereDo You Need More Information on Root Canal Cost?
Do you need more information on root canal costs? Maybe you want to calculate exactly how much it will cost to get this procedure done in your city or province. Maybe you’re trying to decide whether to go to a dentist or an endodontist.
Whatever information you need, we’re here to help. At Insurdinary, we’re experts when it comes to all things dental insurance related. We have plans to help you cover the cost of your root canal. To get in touch, contact us here.
