Cost of root canal in major US cities and abroad

The cost of root canal treatment varies from clinic to clinic and city to city. That variation becomes significant at the country level.

Sometimes this can be very frustrating, especially if you don’t know what influences that cost.

Lack of information is another big problem. It may appear that your favorite dentist has something to hide.

At times you may also feel that dentists are out for your blood. They are a scam and you are a victim.

Against such a dismal scenario, this post will explain the following:

• What are the guiding factors that influence the cost of root canals?
• The cost of root canal in some of the major US cities.
• The cost of root canal in some European countries.
• Where outside the US you can undergo root canal treatment without breaking your bank.
• Do insurance plans cover your root canal treatment cost?
• What can you do to save a part of your root canal therapy cost?
• Is getting a crown after root canal necessary?

Root canal cost: Deciding factors

Several factors influence the price of root canal treatment, whether it is in the US or abroad.

Factors related to you

• The number of teeth requiring treatment.
• Where the tooth is located. Is it a front tooth? A tooth at the back of your mouth?
• How good or bad is the tooth. Does the tooth require any other treatment?
• Where you are located and seeking treatment. Doctors in your city may charge more than those in another city or town. Can you travel?

Factors related to your treatment

• Did you have a root canal before? Removing the post and the filling from the previous treatment will take time.
• Do you need to take any special tests before root canal treatment? For example, if you have gum disease, that may have to be treated first. You may also need specialized x-ray of your mouth the understand he extent of the crack on your teeth.
• Do you need a crown after root canal? The cost of crown will be added to the expenses.
• What kind of crown do you need? Zirconia? Porcelain? The price is different for each.
• Crowns for the back teeth will cost more.
• An emergency treatment always costs more.

Factors related to your doctor

• Where the clinic is located. Clinics at a commercial mall may charge you more for root canal treatment than those away from the downtown areas.
• Is your doctor a celebrity doctor? Are they on TV? Do they mostly treat wealthy people?
• The expertise of your clinic and the doctor.

Cost of root canal in major US cities

With the above deciding factors in mind, let us now see how dentists in major US cities charge their patients for a root canal treatment.

This estimate is per tooth and without insurance.

City	Cost of root canal
Austin	$700 – $900
Boston	$1,300 – $1,600
Charlotte	$750 – $1,100
Chicago	$450 – $850
Columbus	$900 – $1,200
Dallas	$600 – $1,400
Denver	$700 – $1,000
El Paso	$600 – $1,500
Houston	$700 – $2,000
Indianapolis	$400 – $1,800
Jacksonville	$600 – $1,000
Los Angeles	$700 – $1,500
Memphis	$600 – $1,300
New York	$700 – $1,500
Philadelphia	$650 – $1,100
Phoenix	$850 – $1,400
San Antonio	$400 – $2,000
San Diego	$600 – $1,400
San Francisco	$600 – $2,000
Seattle	$600 – $1,500
Washington	$700 – $1,500

As we can see above, the highest starting cost of a root canal is $1300 (Boston), and the lowest starting price is $400 (Indianapolis and San Antonio).

Although Boston has the highest starting price, It does not have the highest average price.

You have the highest average price, $2,000, in three cities: Washington, San Antonio, and Houston.

Although San Antonio has one of the lowest starting prices, its highest average price is no less than what we have in Houston and Washington.

This variation has also been noticed in the price of a crown and other cosmetic dental procedures.

More than 25 million root canals are treated all over the world every year

American Association of Endodontists

Cost of root canal in major European countries

The price given below refers to a single root canal only.

Also note: The price does not include any coverage from the patient’s insurance plans. It also does not include the price of a crown.

*European currencies have been converted to US dollars at the rate available during the time of writing this post.

Country	Cost of root canal
France	$140 – $250
Germany	$800 – $3,000
Italy	$250 – $700
Republic of Ireland	$750 – $1,100
Spain	$250 – $400
The Netherlands	$550 – $850
United Kingdom	$1,500 – $2,000

As we can see above, UK dentists charge the highest amount of money for a root canal dental treatment, while dentists in France charge their patients at the lowest rate.

However, it is the German dentists who charge their patients the highest average fee for root canal treatment. Their rate can be as high as $3,000 per tooth. That is way above what we have seen anywhere in the world.

Note: French dentists may charge a smaller fee than their European or American counterparts, but they provide state-of-the-art dental service to their patients.

The only drawback for French dentists is that based on which dentist you want to see, you may have to wait months for an appointment.

Cost of root canals in countries known for medical tourism

There are several countries outside the ones mentioned above that are known as top medical tourism destinations.

Dentists in these countries are highly trained. They have all the required advanced equipment to offer you excellent dental service.

But they are not always cheap, as we will see in the following table.

Country	Cost of root canal
Bulgaria	$140 – $250
Cuba	$180 – $350
India	$100 – $400
Mexico	$250 – $400
Panama	$500 – $900
Singapore	$500 – $1,500
Thailand	$280 – $450
The Philippines	$120 – $180
South Korea	$150 – $350
Turkey	$120 – $250

Unsurprisingly, India offers the best value for money when it comes to root canals.

The rate starts under $200 also in countries like Bulgaria, Cuba, The Philippines, South Korea, and Turkey.

In India and South Korea, the average cost may rise to as much as $400 and $350 per tooth respectively.

The most expensive two countries among the ten countries mentioned above are Panama and Singapore.

The starting cost of a root canal in both of these countries is $500. The cost may rise to as much as $1500 in Singapore.

Do insurance plans cover the cost of root canals?

It depends on what sort of insurance plan you have subscribed to. That means what kind of coverage you have been paying for and how they categorize root canal

An extensive coverage may cover your root canal treatment, but it is always better to check with your broker before going to the dentist.

Your dentist will be happy to find it out on your behalf. If you do not understand the jargon of the industry, their help will be crucial.

However, you may look at the amount you have as deductible on your insurance plan.

That simply means that you have to pay $2,000 dollars out of your pocket if your dental treatment cost is $2,000. Your insurance will pay nothing.

But if your cost is $3,000 and your deductible is $2000, your insurance will contribute $1,000 to that cost.

Cost of root canal: How to save

• Grow excellent oral habit by keeping your mouth clean.
• Brush and floss regularly.
• Do not miss any appointments with your dentist.
• Subscribe to a dental plan that covers cosmetic dentistry. You can save up to 20% by subscribing to CarePlus dental plans.
• Join a dental savings plan such as Cigna’s and save up to 35% on your cosmetic dental treatment cost.
• Keep an eye on the website or notice board of your local dental schools. They often advertise seeking patients that require specific treatments to train their student dentists. The treatment happens in an academic setting, but it happens in the presence of licenced professionals so you don’t have to worry about safety.

Do you need a crown after a root canal?

Depends.

You may think that the expenses will be higher for your root canal treatment if the price of the crown is added to them.

You are right.

But imagine a situation when you find out your root canal has failed or your broken tooth has cracked again. That may require you to spend more money on complicated dental treatments.

That’s why it is not always bad if you need a crown after your root canal therapy.

However, it will help you prepare for the treatment better if you can determine whether you will require a dental crown after your root canal or not.

Read our post When Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal? to learn more about this.

Cost of root canal: Final word

Treating your infected tooth should be a priority for your overall oral health. Under no circumstances should that be neglected.

The cost of a root canal may be high. But the cost of not treating an infection may be even higher.

Discuss with your dentist to see what your options are.

If you have time, shop around.

If you can save money by driving to the next city or town, or by flying to another country, it is something to think about.

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