Does this sound about right? root canal $

[wubbogirl]

sounds about right. Agree about the trying the local dental school. sucks maybe you should look into dental insurance just in case you have another one break

 

[Golf4food]

I paid around $1,200 for a root canal/crown last year with insurance. They ain't cheap.

Brush your teeth and floss, kids.

 

[amshowers]

The root canal price sounds high to me. I have dental insurance that covers root canals, but I had to pay 137.00 after insurance for crown. I also second the dental college idea. My daughter goes to the dental school for her braces since we only recieve 1,500.00 for ortho. The cost was half what I was quoted at other orthodontists,and she has had excellent care.

 

[java]

no dental insurance here- the whole thing root canal and crown *I had a post put in- was $2100. So you sound right on target with price. I'm in NJ so I am guessing our prices are similar.

 

[buzz5985]

I did want to do just the crown, I really hoped I could. My regular dentist said no and referred me to the endodontist. I got a second opinion from an older dentist who is known for saving teeth but even he recommended the root canal. It is a molar (tooth 20?) and I really want to keep it.

After reading here, the prices I got seem right. There is a dental school in central CT, the Uconn dental school. I looked up their website and will call today. I don't know how hard it is to get in or if there is a waitlist but I'll try to find out. Otherwise, I guess I will pay cash for the root canal and try to hold off the crown till Jan so I can put it in my flexible spending acct. Thanks all!

How close are you to Boston?? Look into Tufts Dental School. I have 2 dental implants from them and paid less for the implants than you were quoted for the root canal, cap. Granted it was 5 years ago. But as someone else pointed out - root canals don't guarantee the tooth being saved.

Janis

 

[SandrA9810]

I paid $1200 in 2002ish for my root canal and crown. It was done by my aunt's dentist, and she was a patient of his for a long time. So I got a bit of a discount since I had no insurance at the time.

I'd opt to have a crown put in, just because your teeth can always shift. That can cause even more problems down the road.

 

[herdtoDisney]

How close are you to Boston?? Look into Tufts Dental School. I have 2 dental implants from them and paid less for the implants than you were quoted for the root canal, cap. Granted it was 5 years ago. But as someone else pointed out - root canals don't guarantee the tooth being saved.

Janis

I'm a couple hours from Boston. There is the UConn dental school here, but I tried calling them all day yesterday-I was on hold for a long time before giving up (a couple times) and left messages. I never got a human. I'm giong to try again today. I also have the endo consult appt.today, and I will ask him lots of questions, from responses I read here. I'll update later!

 

[herdtoDisney]

Back from the endo. Well, after exam, he felt that there was a 90% chance that the decay is into the root. He said, he can clean out all the decay and if it is not into the pulp, he can fill it-otherwise he can just do the root canal. It would be two visits. Apparently the poor tooth already has a big filling on the side and significant decay. He said, at my relatively young age and with all my other teeth in decent shape, he recommends saving the tooth vs. extraction, and that an implant or bridge would cost more and mean more work than just getting the root canal.

So when I left, they offered to do it today and they'd waive the $125 consult fee. I just couldn't...I could barely breathe at this point. I know I would not return today. I told the receptionist, I can't-I made an appt for next week. I have to wrap my mind around this. I don't want to panic in the office. I have dental phobia and this is pushing me to the limit as it is. I know I need to take care of this so I will-but I need the week to get ready.

 

[SandrA9810]

I found my root canal to be a breeze compared to fillings.

I actually had a root canal done because of a filling. And it's also known that decay can start happening behind the filling and you'd be unaware for a long time. I had a filling done on the side of my molar tooth. It was there for a good 4 years, when I decided to eat a jolly rancher, and it bonded to the filling pulling it out. I didn't really make a big deal about it, for for the next three years, I'd just use the end of a needle to clean it out. When I finally went to get it filled, they told me I'd need a root canal. Not fun to hear when you're 17, but I didn't even use the pain meds they prescribed me. It took about a week extra to finally get the crown on, and it's been just fine since.

 

[Nohal]

I agree with some of the other posters and would not go to a dental school even though there are some good ones close by in Phila. At the age of 18 I had 3 root canals and crowns put on all 12 molars. Can you tell that I had me some bad teeth. I am much older now and still have bad teeth, I am at the point where my teeth are getting so bad that I have had to go with implants. While I am really happy with my decision (better than a partial plate on the bottom) there is nothing like your own teeth. So keep them as long as you can.

 

[PHXscuba]

The endodontist will charge more for a root canal than if a dentist does it, so your cost (for what sounds like a complicated case) will likely be more than others on here who had a dentist do the root canal themselves. If you've had two dentists tell you to see an endodontist, that's probably what you'll need.

Take a deep breath

Make sure you understand all the costs before he starts drilling. My older sister had a root canal once and was livid that the dentist never explained she'd need a crown afterward and the cost. If you are paying cash ask what the cash price is; if you can pay upfront there should be a discount because they don't have to deal with insurance, billing, etc. This goes for both dentist and endodontist.

PHXscuba

 

[holycow]

Yes, take a deep breath!

You can look into Credit Care (GE) no interest for 12 months credit card. If you do that and pay it with your Flex acct. in Jan. (I think you mentioned)

I went to a Dentist and he did a bad job!!!! I went back, he admitted it, referred me to an endo. BUT I can't have a Root canal on the same tooth in a 24 month period!!!!! UGH!

Go to the endo. Just make sure he is reputable. Save yourself in the long run.

Also if I might add DON"T PUT IT OFF! I did...I suffered for 9 months had the Canal done and found out 2 months later (after calling repetedly) that it was bad. I wish I would have just went in the first place instead of waiting so long!

Good luck to you!!!

 

[plummer925]

Due to my genetics and stupid love of chomping on Bottle Caps candy I have been recommended, by two dentists, to get a root canal for my broken tooth. A crown too. Or else, extraction. I'd like to keep my tooth.

I was referred to an endodontist and have a consult soon. I was told $125 for that and $1300 for the root canal. Dentist said $800 for the crown. I should note that I do not have dental insurance (nor access to any, which I why we don't have it). So I'm paying OOP.

Do these prices sound about right? Are there alternatives? Is is worth it for this tooth? Thanks, any help appreciated. I've given up the Bottle Caps habit...

Here in Maine that is a little bit less than my endodontist charges - I've had 3 in the past year - ouch.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It all depends on where you live.. I am in SW FL and just had a root canal done @ the Endo.. it was $900 and and I am lucky.. I don't need a crown, that would have been another $700... I am getting by with a filling. The dentist (not Endo) my friend went to was told $1500 for the root canal and another $600 for her crown.. so her's is higher (much higher, but maybe more complicated??? I have no clue and he isn't an Endo???) on the root canal but cheaper on the crown.

 

[ksantilli]

i just had a crown put on yesterday, and prepped with a temporary for another. My dentist charges $1300, per crown. I have dental insurance, but hey will only pay 50%. All I can think is, "This money could be paying for my vacation to WDW!"

I think The prices you were quoted were very reasonable, but I totally understand the anxiety it causes! So sorry!

 

[lakoda]

If you have dental anxiety (I do along with zero pain tolerance!), I HIGHLY recommend having oral sedation. It is the only way I can have anything done! It is an extra $100 at my dentist office and it is worth every penny to me. I was going to also mention that if you have access to set up a flexible spending account that you might be able to hold off getting the crown til it kicks in on Jan. 1. I can totally sympathize - I just had a root canal with a post and some cutback (?) on the gum to provide enough room for the crown. I currently have a temporary while it is healing. Not sure why your root canal would take two visits, did he happen to mention? My dentist did everything (except the crown b/c of the healing process) in one visit.

 

[Debbie7452]

If you can possibly find a dentist(shop around by phone)to do the root canal you will probably save about half that cost. My endodontist RC was $1000, but my dentist root canal was about 600. I was in your shoes with no insurance and not many resouces, but had no idea the endodontist would charge that much. They wanted it on the spot too right after the lengthy procedure. I broke down and cried like a baby from shock. It was so embarrassing. I found a new dentist's office that does its own RC work!