Reasonable cost for a (UGH) root canal?

[WDWBarb]

Ok, so my dentist tells me that I have to have a root canal and it's scheduled for next week. This procedure is going to cost me between $1,500 and $2,000 according to her estimate.



So it's been years since I had a root canal done and I'm in total shock. This is for the procedure, the crown, the works. Almost 100% of this is going to be out-of-pocket because I've about hit my maximum for dental insurance this year.

What's reasonable? Is this totally in-line and I'm just fooling myself that it shouldn't cost this much?

 

[creativeamanda]

Sounds actually pretty good. I paid $460 oop for my root canal and my dental ins covers 80%. The root canal procedure was all this covered. I paid an additional $300 for the crown.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Gosh, it's been a while since my last (and only) root canal. I believe I had to pay $600 out of pocket. I know insurance picked up quite a bit. It sure is a budget buster.....but it definitely needs to get done.

I actually had my root canal ON my birthday because I was in so much pain. I was screaming, moaning, crying, telling hubby that I would rather be in labor, etc.....it was truly the most painful thing ever. The root cancal made it all better instantly!!

 

[WDWBarb]

Gosh, it's been a while since my last (and only) root canal. I believe I had to pay $600 out of pocket. I know insurance picked up quite a bit. It sure is a budget buster.....but it definitely needs to get done.

I actually had my root canal ON my birthday because I was in so much pain. I was screaming, moaning, crying, telling hubby that I would rather be in labor, etc.....it was truly the most painful thing ever. The root cancal made it all better instantly!!

Wow! I guess I'm lucky - I don't feel much of anything. I went in because of some slight tenderness in my gums around the tooth and the x-rays showed the bad news. Your experience sounds terrible!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Recently I was charged $2200. Insurance is covering some, but since I had already used a good portion of my insurance for the year, my OOP is $1100.

 

[dzneelvr]

My last root canal was over 10 years ago and cost $750 pre-insurance, so I believe the figure you quoted is realistic. I can't tell you what my OOP was because I can't find the records. Isn't it unbelievable how much dental work now costs

 

[claudia]

Ok, so my dentist tells me that I have to have a root canal and it's scheduled for next week. This procedure is going to cost me between $1,500 and $2,000 according to her estimate.



So it's been years since I had a root canal done and I'm in total shock. This is for the procedure, the crown, the works. Almost 100% of this is going to be out-of-pocket because I've about hit my maximum for dental insurance this year.

What's reasonable? Is this totally in-line and I'm just fooling myself that it shouldn't cost this much?

definitely sounds on target price wise. What tooth is being done? If it is a back molar on a side that you do not chew on you could always ask to have it filled with an amalgam after the RCT (of course only if there is enough tooth structure that will be left), and then in January, when the insurance kicks back in you could have the post, core and crown done......ask your dentist....

 

[JessicaR]

Molar or front tooth? Endodontist or Dentist? Your price sounds OK considering its the root canal and a crown.

 

[DisMN]

The price is right in line with what I paid a year ago.
Had one done last summer when DH was laid off. Dentist was *almost* certain it would *save* the tooth.
Very hard to pay for and in two weeks the root canal failed anyway. Next recommended was a tooth pulling that was gonna cost another $2000. Guess who still has the broken tooth? LOL

My point is make sure the tooth can be saved and is WORTH saving. Mine was a molar and you can't tell that it's half gone. I'll live with it this way as long as possible, cuz I have always longed to look like a hillbilly.

 

[SandrA9810]

I would look into a second hold over option till January so your insurance will kick in. But just make sure if you wait it's not going to cause you too lose your tooth entirely.

If not, 1500 is a pretty good deal.

 

[wdwfan16]

Mine was $1800.

 

[kpm76]

The price is right in line with what I paid a year ago.
Had one done last summer when DH was laid off. Dentist was *almost* certain it would *save* the tooth.
Very hard to pay for and in two weeks the root canal failed anyway. Next recommended was a tooth pulling that was gonna cost another $2000. Guess who still has the broken tooth? LOL

My point is make sure the tooth can be saved and is WORTH saving. Mine was a molar and you can't tell that it's half gone. I'll live with it this way as long as possible, cuz I have always longed to look like a hillbilly.

I agree, make sure the tooth is able to be saved and worth it. I have a failed root canal and thank God, I held off on the crown since I am losing the tooth I am pregnant and due any day so I cannot do anything about the tooth until after I have the baby. I'm getting the tooth pulled and an implant to the tune of about $2k OOP. UGH.....

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Wow! I guess I'm lucky - I don't feel much of anything. I went in because of some slight tenderness in my gums around the tooth and the x-rays showed the bad news. Your experience sounds terrible!

I had what I later found out was an abscess above my teeth, in the gums. I thought it was a canker sore that just wouldn't go away for the longest time. It didn't give me any trouble....until the day I was in so much pain I thought I was going to die!

 

[WDWBarb]

Molar or front tooth? Endodontist or Dentist? Your price sounds OK considering its the root canal and a crown.

An endodontist is going to do the actual root canal and my dentist will do the crown. She's sending me to an endodontist because the last time she did a filling on me, she couldn't get me numb. She'd drilled too far by the time we realized and we had to finish up that way. Guess I wasn't the only one scarred by that experience. She said it was hard enough doing a filling on a squirming patient but a root canal that way is out of the question!

I guess my estimate is actually pretty good! DH was wanting me to get second opinions because he thought it was way too high. I've been to this dentist for years and I trust her so I really didn't want to have to question the price.

I am going to ask about holding off until next year (at least for the crown). For the cost of dental insurance, it would be nice to be able to use it..

 

[JessicaR]

An endodontist is going to do the actual root canal and my dentist will do the crown. She's sending me to an endodontist because the last time she did a filling on me, she couldn't get me numb. She'd drilled too far by the time we realized and we had to finish up that way. Guess I wasn't the only one scarred by that experience. She said it was hard enough doing a filling on a squirming patient but a root canal that way is out of the question!

I guess my estimate is actually pretty good! DH was wanting me to get second opinions because he thought it was way too high. I've been to this dentist for years and I trust her so I really didn't want to have to question the price.

I am going to ask about holding off until next year (at least for the crown). For the cost of dental insurance, it would be nice to be able to use it..

Your estimate is very reasonable considering the further info. If you can wait for the crown I would do the same thing. I once had a failed root canal that was under a crown and my dentist sent me to an endodontist for an apicoectomy...Talk about a fee! Good luck!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I had a little under $800 out of pocket for an endontist to do the root canal and my primary dentist to do the crown. My insurance paid about an equal amount.

One thing the endontist told me was that with insurance he was only allowed to charge the negotiated rate but without insurance it would have been about $250 more, for about $950 just for the root canal and the crown would have been about $800 alone.

So even if you are nearing your annual cap on the dental insurance, run it through them so you will get the negotiated (lower) rate.

 

[OhMari]

Gosh, it's been a while since my last (and only) root canal. I believe I had to pay $600 out of pocket. I know insurance picked up quite a bit. It sure is a budget buster.....but it definitely needs to get done.

I actually had my root canal ON my birthday because I was in so much pain. I was screaming, moaning, crying, telling hubby that I would rather be in labor, etc.....it was truly the most painful thing ever. The root cancal made it all better instantly!!

When I first read this, I thought you had pain during the root canal. I see you made another reference, that you were in pain because of the abcess.

To the OP, I'm having one done next week Thursday. I'm paying the same out of pocket expense, and my Dentist, bookkeeper, wants my portion the same day. Like I have $800 to hand over. Luckily the have a Chase medical credit card, and I can put the $800 on there and if I pay it off in 6 months, I don't get charged a finance charge.

I don't understand dental insurance.
Mine covers 2 cleanings a year and a total expenditure of $1500 a year. Then root canals and caps are only 50%. I once asked my dentist why? and he told me, people want caps on their teeth, and this brought up the price, plus insurance companies, consider caps "cosmetic" and not needed. Seriously? if you are having a root canal, how is a cap considered cosmetic. Am I suppose to walk around with a tooth have shaven off.

Vent over.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is a difference between a cap and a crown. As stated, a cap is cosmetic and is basically on the visible surface of the tooth. A crown is used to save a tooth that may or may not have had a root canal and it covers all four sides as well as the top of the tooth.

And most dental insurance will cover 50% of the "usual and customary charges" up to their annual dollar limit. And the U&C generally is less than what the dentist will bill an unisured patient and they have to accept that amount.

 

[dislaney]

Mine was $1800.

So was mine. I was not a happy camper when I heard the price!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Mine was 1,700.....

For that amount of money I could of had some fun!