How Much Is a Root Canal?

Key takeaways:

A root canal is a nonsurgical procedure that repairs a damaged tooth, thus saving your natural teeth.
The cost of root canal treatment depends on the tooth’s location in your mouth and the amount of restoration needed.
On average, a root canal costs around $1,200 without insurance.

Many people dread having a root canal because they expect the treatment to be a painful ordeal. But if your dentist says you need one, chances are your tooth is already hurting due to a crack, cavity, or infection. Despite its reputation, a root canal treatment can actually ease your toothache and restore your tooth.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure for repairing a cracked or infected tooth. It’s considered treatment or therapy and not dental surgery. A dentist with additional training who works below the tooth’s surface — known as an endodontist — typically performs a root canal. The purpose of the procedure is to remove bacteria as well as the dead or dying tissue inside the tooth. The larger goal is to preserve the tooth, so that it won’t need to be extracted.

How much is a root canal without insurance?

A root canal costs about $1,200 without insurance, according to CareCredit, a healthcare financing company. Root canal costs depend on several factors, including:

Tooth location in your mouth
Whether you’re seeing your regular dentist or a specialist, such as an endodontist
Whether it’s a first-time root canal or a second root canal on a previously treated tooth
Whether it’s an emergency or scheduled root canal
Whether you need a crown
Whether your insurance covers all or part of the procedure
Where you live

The chompers in the back known as molars are harder to reach and clean — and typically cost the most if you need a root canal. Front teeth are easier for the dentist to access, so root canals there are less costly. Bicuspid or premolar teeth are located before your molars. Root canals on bicuspids tend to cost more than those on front teeth and less than those on molars.

Drilling down on root canal costs

The chart below offers average cost ranges by tooth location/type.

Root canal cost by tooth location

Tooth location/type	Average cost range without insurance
Front tooth	$776 - $1,911
Bicuspid	$757 - $1,798
Molar	$1,030 - $2,471

Source: CareCredit

Sometimes, a root canal requires retreatment. During this complex and time-consuming process, a dentist or endodontist removes existing filler materials and searches for additional issues with the tooth. You can expect to pay more than the cost of a first-time root canal if you have retreatment.

Here is a sampling of dental practices in the U.S. that disclose their root canal costs without insurance on their websites.

Root canal cost by city/region

City/region	Cost ranges without insurance
National dental chain	$550 - $1,545
Dallas area	$700 - $2,000
Maryland suburbs near Washington, D.C.	$300 - $2,000
New Jersey (suburban)	$700 - $1,600
New York City	$1,100 - $2,500
Orlando, Florida, area	$700 - $2,100

What’s included in the cost of a root canal?

The price of a root canal procedure typically covers:

X-rays or other imaging
Anesthesia
Procedure

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

What to expect during a root canal: Contrary to popular belief, a root canal doesn’t have to be painful. Read more about three people’s experiences having this dental procedure.
What to eat after the procedure: Take a closer look at the foods you should eat and the foods you should avoid after a root canal, so you can have a smooth recovery.
Finding affordable dental care: If you don’t have insurance, seeing a dentist can be costly. Fortunately, there are ways to access free or low-cost dental care.

You also may need to pay for an initial consultation, which can include the cost of imaging. Also, the root canal’s price typically will not include final tooth restoration, such as a new filling or dental crown.

What happens during root canal treatment?

At the beginning, the endodontist examines your tooth’s condition and discusses this with you. After that, the procedure usually takes place in two steps:

Removal: You get a shot of anesthesia to numb your mouth. The endodontist then drills your tooth to expose its pulp, which is the soft tissue at its center. The specialist removes the infected pulp with small files and cleans the canals (passageways) within the tooth’s root. The endodontist may add a temporary filler for the tooth’s roots or a top seal to guard the tooth.
Restoration: Within a few weeks, you’ll likely visit your regular dentist for another procedure. You’ll get a permanent filling or crown (artificial tooth) to protect the cleaned root and the rest of the tooth.

Do I need a crown after a root canal?

Your dentist may recommend a crown if the root canal is in a molar. A dental crown supports the tooth and increases its likelihood of survival. The average cost of a crown is $800 to $2,500 without insurance, but prices vary with the materials used. Crowns may be metal, ceramic, zirconia (a type of ceramic), or porcelain fused to metal.

Does insurance cover a root canal?

Most dental plans cover root canals and typically consider them major procedures. A dental insurance policy is likely to cover 50% to 80% of the root canal’s cost after you’ve met your deductible. If you need a crown, though, your dental plan may pay a smaller share of that cost.

There may be other limitations, too, regarding tooth restoration. In some cases, coverage may depend on meeting certain clinical criteria, such as having a destroyed tooth structure that requires a crown. Also, your coverage may be limited by your plan’s annual maximum benefit — typically $1,000 to $2,000.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services, but specific treatments related to other care can be covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage, typically preventive care such as cleanings — but not root canals and other endodontic care.

Medicaid provides comprehensive dental benefits for all children’s coverage, which includes root canals, but the procedure may not be covered for adults.

Is a root canal worth it?

The alternative to a root canal is often pulling the tooth, which could lead to more costly dental replacement options, such as an implant, partial denture, or full dentures.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of having a root canal:

Pros

Saves your natural tooth for cosmetic reasons and chewing
Relieves swelling, toothache, and intense tooth sensitivity to cold or heat
Compared to extracting and replacing the tooth, could involve less time, expense, and risk to nearby healthy teeth and gums
Is more likely to be painless compared with an extraction

Cons

May require two or three visits
May involve taking antibiotics after the procedure if the infection spread
Could result in dental issues, such as tooth loss or fracture, nerve damage, or infection
May lead to discoloration of the tooth

Questions to ask a dentist or endodontist about your root canal

It’s prudent to do your research to gain understanding and peace of mind about your root canal. In addition to comparing costs, you should talk with your dental professional about the procedure. Important questions you may want to ask include:

How many root canals do you perform each day or week?
How many visits will my root canal take?
What possible issues could I face in my situation?
Do I need a crown? If you install the crown, how much will that cost?
Is the root canal covered by my insurance?
What are my estimated out-of-pocket costs for this root canal?

How long do the effects and benefits of the root canal last?

A root canal is intended to provide permanent relief. But sometimes the tooth needs attention months or years later, because it has again become infected, inflamed, or otherwise painful.

This can happen due to:

Failure of the initial treatment to clear up the existing infection or inflammation
New infection
Damaged tooth or crown
Delays before adding a needed crown

In this case, retreatment or endodontic surgery could save the tooth.

The bottom line

A root canal treatment can help you regain a healthy mouth by stopping infection and removing damaged tissue from your painful tooth. Its cost is influenced by factors such as the tooth’s location and whether you need a crown. If you have dental insurance, that should cover at least some of the treatment cost; check the details of your policy.

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Written by:

Lora Shinn, MLIS

Lora Shinn is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience writing about health and personal finance, and has written for outlets such as Prevention, Healthline, The Paper Gown, and The Balance. Topics covered have ranged from medical clowning to creating a healthier home.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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