Are you suffering from toothache? You make your way over to the dentist that you haven’t visited from a long time, but it turns out that your insurance plan expired. And you need a root canal.
A toothache isn't just a passing pain; sometimes, it’s an indication of a deeper problem requiring a root canal. The looming question for many remains:
“How much is a root canal?”
Before seeing the endodontist, you want to get a general idea of how much it costs and how you’re going to pay for it.
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In this blog, we will discuss the average root canal cost, and how these prices fare with and without insurance. We will also explore various payment options available to ensure that you don’t have to bear the entire root canal cost without insurance.
What Is Root Canal Procedure?
Root canal treatments are essential to save and repair a damaged tooth. This nonsurgical procedure, commonly undertaken by a dentist, is centered on eliminating bacteria and dead tissue inside the tooth. It's a pivotal solution to relieve toothache and preserve your natural tooth, irrespective of whether it's a front tooth root canal or a molar.
Root Canal Treatment Costing: An In-Depth Look
Here, we break down the average root canal cost, along with the cost of a root canal and crown without insurance:
| Tooth Type/Procedure | Average Cost (Without Insurance) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Root Canal Front Tooth | $600 - $900 | Front teeth are usually cheaper due to accessibility. |
| Molar | $1,000 - $1,400 | More complex due to more canals in the tooth. |
| Retreatment of Previous Root Canal | Additional 20% of the base cost | Costs can rise due to complexities in retreatment |
| Crown | $1,000 - $1,500 | Often necessary post-root canal for protection. |
| Filling a Cavity | $50 - $250 | Price varies depending on the complexity and location. |
| Total Cost for Front Tooth Root Canal & Crown | $1,600 - $2,400 | This combines the cost of a front tooth root canal and the subsequent crown without insurance. |
How Much Is a Root Canal Out-Of-Pocket?
If you're uninsured, the average root canal cost without insurance for a front tooth ranges from $600 to $900, while a molar can be more expensive, ranging between $1,000 and $1,400. Factors affecting this include the tooth's location, complexity, and the expertise of the endodontist.
Root Canal and Crown Cost Without Insurance
Post root canal, a crown might be recommended to protect the tooth. Combining the root canal and crown cost without insurance, you're likely looking at a total between $1,600 and $2,400 for a front tooth.
Other Associated Costs
Apart from the root canal cost without insurance, additional treatments might be necessary, depending on the tooth's condition. For example, filling a cavity can cost anywhere from $50 to $250.
Factors Affecting Costs:
Several factors can affect how much root canals cost. The location of the tooth plays a role, with a root canal front tooth being less expensive due to easier access, as compared to molars. Additional procedures such as filling a cavity can also contribute to the final bill, with the average cost to fill a cavity ranging from $50 to $250 for amalgam (silver) fillings and $90 to $450 for composite (tooth-colored) fillings.
Insurance and Its Impact:
Dental insurance can significantly reduce how much a root canal is out-of-pocket. The coverage could potentially bear 50% to 80% of the root canal’s cost post-deductible. However, limitations and variances in policies apply. Medicare and Medicaid offer different levels of coverage, with the latter’s coverage being state-dependent.
Payment Plans and Other Payment Options
For those wondering about the cost of root canal without insurance, several payment options and payment plans can help alleviate the financial burden:
Below you will find options for root canal payment plan so that you can take care of the work that you need on your teeth.
I. Loans For Root Canal Treatment
Patients can take out a personal loan that can be used for almost anything, but some lenders offer personal loans that are meant to be used specifically for dental work. Since the purpose of the loan is more defined, such loans can offer lower interest rates and varied term lengths.
Dental loans are considered unsecured loans, meaning that there is no collateral backing up the loan (and it is not possible for your dentist to take back your root canal after treatment).
The fact that dental loans are unsecured loans will make the interest rates slightly higher than secured loans since lenders are taking a greater risk of loaning you the money. Nonetheless, dental loans are many times still more economical than personal loans.
Dental loans that can be used for root canal treatment are available from third-party lenders, banks, and credit unions.
The drawback with dental loans is that borrowers must be approved for the loan, which means that patients’ credit scores come into play. Patients may be able to still be approved for a dental loan with a low credit score, but interest rates can be very high as a result.
Payday loans exist as a no credit check dental payment plans, but this is not the best solution as payments are not reported to the credit bureaus, so borrowers get no benefit from the loan at all whatsoever. Furthermore, they can be very expensive.
Patients will want to keep this in mind as they seek root canal loans.
II. Other Payment Options For Root Canal Treatment
If you do not have dental insurance through your family or your employer, a commonly used payment options for root canals. There are multiple payment options available for root canal treatment.
1. In House Payment for Root Canals
Many times you can see if your dentist or endodontist offers in-house payment options that will cover your treatment. This will allow you to make monthly payments until the root canal is fully paid off.
Signing up for various payment options for root canal treatment through your dentist or endodontist will require the process of getting approved for one of the plans. Plans can vary from term length to requiring a down payment, but the interest rate that is set for your root canal financing plan will depend on various factors.
This alone can make it challenging for patients to obtain the root canal financing that they need if they have struggled at any point with their credit.
2. Traditional Financing for Root Canals
If your dentist does not offer an in-house financing option, patients can benefit from using a third-party lender to finance their root canal treatment.
Some popular sources of financing include CareCredit’s healthcare credit card, which allows you to cover most dental expenses under a credit card that is used for that purpose exclusively.
The benefit of using CareCredit’s healthcare credit card is that you can hold onto it and use it for multiple dental procedures that arise in the future.
The disadvantage, however, is that one must be approved to use CareCredit’s healthcare credit card, which rules out most patients with a poor credit score. Furthermore, while you await approval, you are unable to receive treatment for your tooth pain.
3. Root Canal Patients Payment Plans with Bad Credit
If you lack insurance, have good credit, and are strapped for funds for a root canal treatment, you will find that the most affordable way to cover your treatment is Denefits Protected Dental Payment Plan .
With Denefits, all patients are instantly approved for payment plans regardless of their credit score, which means there will be no hard inquiries on your credit report and you can get the treatment that you need from your dentist on the spot to alleviate your dental pain.
Denefits has worked to create a culture of accessibility for dental patients nationwide so that cost is not a factor that keeps anyone from receiving the services that they need.
Find a dental provider using Denefits today to get the root canal treatment that you need.
