If your teeth hurt, you know it can make your wallet hurt too. Emergency dental care is expensive, which is why you need to keep regular oral check-ups at least twice a year. However, if your sore tooth requires a root canal to fix, don’t get scared. All you need to do is understand what root canal treatment is and how certain factors can affect its cost. 

No matter how scarier it may sounds, root canal procedure is a delicate and quick dental procedure, that won’t take too long. Learn more about “How long does a root canal take?

Here’s the general rundown for root canals and what they’ll eventually cost you:

How much a root canal costs

The cost of a root canal differs depending on which area you are in and which tooth needs it.

Molars are considerably more expensive than bicuspids and front teeth, mainly due to their level of complexity. Your front teeth have one canal, while your back teeth can have as many as three. If several teeth need a root canal, you may get a discount on the molars.

So what amount you’ve to pay for it? It depends upon several factors, but the short answer is somewhere around $1,000. Here are the average prices of a root canal according to teeth’ type:

• Front teeth: the cost will be somewhere around $300 to $1,500, but a more typical range is $900 to $1,100.
• Bicuspids: A bicuspid cost is likely a little steeper, ranging between $400 and $1,800 with an expected price of $900 to $1,100.
• Molars: molars can cost you more. For a molar root canal, you’re looking at spending around $500 to $2,000, with a typical price of about $1,000 to $1,300.

Besides teeth, there are other add-ons to root canal’s cost, including follow-up visits (about $50 to $100 each) and a dental crown (around $300 to $3,000 depending on the tooth). If you’re lucky enough, you might get good with just a filling, which will cost you around $50 to $300.

How insurance affects the cost of a root canal

According to the National Association of Dental Plans, 64% of Americans have dental insurance. If you’re among them, your next question would be, how much will your insurance cover?

Dental insurance will often cover 100% of routine costs and half of the cost for major dental procedures, such as a root canal. One thing more, there might be a waiting period on your insurance. So if you’ve insurance, check out its policy as you may have to wait until you get full coverage. However, waiting for a root canal is a huge mistake. Make sure you’ve read all the useful information about root canal treatment.

Ways to save money on a root canal

The cost of a root canal can reduce if you’re getting the procedure done at your local dental college. Dental schools are always looking for people for their students to practice on. The senior dental students perform these procedures under an experienced dentist’s supervision to make sure you’re getting the best care. 

Other than that, you can always go for discount offers. Even saving just 10% can be significant on a big dental procedure like a root canal.