The root canal cost can be as frightening as the treatment itself, to many people. For a few, telling them they need a root canal is worse than public speaking. It is often a treatment that has a bad reputation in terms of associated pain and cost, as well as the source of many jokes during late-night shows. The good news is only a small percentage of root canal treatments are painful and there are ways to manage these conditions to make the treatment as least painful as possible.
The need for root canal treatment is emotionally and financially taxing and unfortunately, many patients are affected by it. A root canal is a complex micro-surgical treatment that is often performed by specialists, known as Endodontists. The time and techniques involved can greatly influence the root canal cost. Today, I will discuss, the 8 factors influencing root canal cost.
What is a root canal?
A Root canal becomes necessary when the pulp (that contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth) becomes inflamed or infected secondary to trauma. This trauma may be due to deep decay encroaching on the pulp, blunt forced trauma to the tooth causing the nerve to become necrotic, or a cracked tooth. Some signs that you may need root canal treatment are severe pain, lingering sensitivity with hot or cold, a pimple (abscess) on the gum beside your tooth, or a tooth that is discolored (noticeably darker) than the adjacent teeth.
When root canal therapy is performed, the diseased pulp tissue is removed, and the root canals of the tooth are then meticulously cleaned and shaped to receive a biocompatible filling material that will both fill and seal the canal space. Most often, this tooth will then be protected by a crowning to restore it to optimal esthetic and function.
Are Root Canals Painful?
Despite their bad reputation, the majority of root canal treatments are not painful. Often, the pain a patient experiences with a tooth is a dull constant toothache or acute pain with a sudden onset, which kills the nerves inside of the pulp before the patient sees a dentist. If the nerves are partially or completely dead; most often patients experience almost no pain with good profound anesthesia given by the dentist. However, if the pain is acute or if the tooth is severely infected, pain management becomes very critical by the specialist.
It is not uncommon for the specialist to prescribe high-dose antibiotics prior to a root canal appointment or recommend an IV sedation to minimize or eliminate any pain associated with the treatment. If you require to visit a dentist first to receive an antibiotic or have your treatment performed under sedation, the root canal cost will increase.
What are some factors that affect how much a root canal will cost?
People are often alarmed when hearing they need a root canal because immediately they envision their rent or mortgage payment as root canals are expensive. However, many factors affect the root canal cost. Some of these include the following:
- Location of the tooth: The root canal cost is heavily influenced by where the tooth is located in the mouth, the ease of access, and how many canals the tooth may have. Anterior teeth (incisors and canines) generally have a single root, whereas posterior teeth (like molars) can 3 or more canals. Since root canal treatments are generally charged per canal, since each canal must be instrumented separately and filled, teeth with more canals will cost more. In any tooth, more canals mean increased treatment difficulty, treatment time, and more materials used so these will demand a higher cost.
- Root morphology: If the canals of the tooth to be treated are very long and tortuous, if there are bifurcations or other variations along the length of the canal, this can make the canal system more difficult to access, instrument (clean and shape), and may require multiple visits to be completed. The difficulty and increased chair-time mean costing will be higher.
- Calcification: Generally, this occurs secondary to a dental trauma and causes the pulp to become filled with tissue that is hard (calcified). Teeth affected often become discolored and may require root canal treatment if the calcified pulp becomes infected. However, canals are difficult to locate and instrument when calcification is present, and referral to a specialist (endodontist) often is necessary.
- Referral to a specialist: If the root canal is very complex, it may be referred to a specialist (Endodontist). Endodontists have equipment such as microscopes and cone-beam CT scans that makes performing root canal therapy a much easier and, a quicker process. As with any specialist, using specialized equipment, the cost will be increased. However, Endodontists perfrom 8-20 root canals a day, and they are so proficient that they are well worth the extra cost.
- Retreatment of previous root canals: Retreating a failed root canal is more technical and more time-consuming because it involves removal of the existing filling material, re-instrumenting, and filling. These teeth will also very likely require a crown.
- Complications: Teeth requiring root canal treatment that have severe infections or abscesses will require drainage of the infection before initiating treatment or dressing the tooth multiple times before filling it. These additional appointments will incur extra costs.
- Crowns: These are often required after endodontic treatment to increase fracture resistance and restore functionality to the tooth. The cost is separate from that of root canal treatment and so it is an additional expense. Also, in a tooth that is severely compromised because large amounts of tooth structure have been lost, a post may be needed to give additional strength (at an additional cost).
- Where you live: The root canal cost is very different depending on where you live. Regional prices differ so do individual dental offices. Also, prices in western countries are higher because the cost of labor is higher. The table below is an average cost of root canal treatment per each major city listed. For example, the root canal cost of a molar tooth in Los Angles at a specialist office is on Average US$2200, where the same treatment with a dental specialist in Bangkok, will be approximately, US$500. It is no wonder why some patients decide to travel overseas for their treatment.
| Tooth | USA | AUSTRALIA | THAILAND |
| Incisors- Canines | $900 | $1200 | $300 |
| Bicuspids- Pre-Molars | $1500 | $1700 | $400 |
| First Molars | $1750 | $1800 | $500 |
| Second Molars | $2300 | $2100 | $600 |
dental consultation, x-rays, crowns, and posts.
Is the root canal cost justified?
Patients often question, if the root canal cost is something worth justifying. Because the treatment goal is to save the tooth from extraction, it is a very wise investment for many patients, as nothing can replace a natural tooth better than keeping the tooth intact in the first place. However, if the tooth is severely infected, or if it is suffering from a major bone loss with a poor prognosis, it is often best to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental implant.
The root canal cost in addition to requiring a dental crown or possibly a post can become comparable to replacing a tooth with a dental implant. However, as I mentioned before, nothing is like saving and keeping your own tooth.
How Can I pay for my root canal cost?
It is often best to know exactly the total cost of everything upfront. The additional costs such as a dental crown, a post, or ant ancillary services such as sedation, must be discussed upfront with your dentist, so you can make a wise and informed decision about your treatment, as well as manage your budget. If you are being referred to outside dental specialists, getting all of the costs from multiple providers could become very challenging.
This is one reason we created DentistConsultationHub, to help patients get dental quotations right on a single platform. Our platform accepts Credit Cards, PayPal as a method of payment but you can also apply to finance directly via our site to make weekly or monthly installments. To apply for financing, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is still a lot that people do not understand about root canal treatment. Here are some questions that you may want to be answered:
- Can I wait to get my crown?
In most posterior ( back ) teeth having a root canal treatment is followed by a crown in about 2 weeks. The time ensures the tooth can be monitored for any post-operative symptoms like pain or sensitivity. Delaying a crown for too long increases the likelihood of the tooth becoming fractured or cracked (because these teeth are brittle) and wasting the money that you have spent. More sound tooth structure is left, longer, you may be able to wait but ultimately, it can fracture. Talk to your dentist or get a consult with one of our dentists today.
- I did a root canal a few years ago and now it is black? Why?
This is most commonly a problem with anterior (front ) teeth, and it is due to a lack of vascularity to the tooth. The grayer, they become, the more prone to fracture they may become.
- Is getting a root canal painful?
Most times, a root canal is performed to relieve severe pain caused by infection or inflammation of the pulp. The use of anesthetics and modern techniques ensure a comfortable procedure for most patients. Also, when multiple visits are required to complete treatment, an intra-canal medicament is used to soothe the tooth and prevent painful flare-ups.
Following root canal treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive after a few days especially when there was pain or infection before. Generally, sensitivity can be relieved using over-the-counter (like NSAIDs) or prescription medication. Some discomfort may be experienced after treatment has been completed if the bite of the crown or filling placed is too high. In these cases, a quick visit to the dentist to make the necessary adjustments will correct this.
- What if the pain persists?
Persistent severe pain following endodontic treatment may be an indication of something more serious, like a canal that has been missed or a cracked tooth. To know for sure whether your tooth is fractured, you will need to visit your dentist/endodontist for them to carry out an examination and diagnostic tests (such as using a tooth slooth to detect if there is increased pain with lateral pressure) or a 3-D cone beam scan.
- When should I consider saving my tooth vs. extracting and replacing it with an implant?
If a tooth has a very deep cavity and the tooth is severely compromised, a dentist may suggest that the tooth be extracted and replaced with an implant. An implant is a permanent tooth replacement that can last a lifetime if properly cared for. It consists of a titanium screw that is placed within the jawbone and supports a crown above the gum line to restore the form and function of the tooth that is being replaced.
References
- Bayba, M. (n.d). Cost of a Root Canal Without Insurance and With Insurance. NewMouth.
- Colgate. (n.d.). What Root Canals Cost And Why The Cost Varies.
- American Association of Endodontists. (n.d.). Root Canal Explained.
- American Association of Endodontists. (n.d.). What is a Root Canal?
- Jamie the dentist. (n.d.). How Much does a Root Canal Cost?
- Colgate. (n.d.). What Is A Calcified Tooth? Causes And Treatment Options.
