Root Canal and Crown Cost: What You Will Pay With and Without Insurance
Why root canals and crowns almost always go together
A root canal removes infected or dead pulp from inside a tooth, saving the tooth structure but leaving it hollow, brittle, and vulnerable to fracture. A dental crown placed over the root-canaled tooth protects it from cracking under normal chewing forces and restores full function. Dentists almost universally recommend a crown after a root canal on any molar or premolar. Front teeth sometimes avoid the crown requirement if enough tooth structure remains, but for back teeth that absorb heavy bite forces, skipping the crown significantly increases the risk of tooth fracture and eventual loss.
Use our dental crown cost calculator to estimate the total cost of your root canal plus crown combination based on your insurance status.
Root canal cost: what to expect
Root canal fees vary by which tooth is being treated and who performs the procedure. Front teeth (single-rooted) are simpler and less expensive. Molars have multiple roots and are more complex, costing more and sometimes requiring referral to an endodontist (root canal specialist).
| Tooth type | Root canal cost (no insurance) | By whom |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth (single root) | $700 to $1,200 | General dentist |
| Premolar (bicuspid) | $800 to $1,400 | General dentist or endodontist |
| Molar (multi-root) | $1,000 to $1,800 | Often an endodontist |
| Endodontist premium | Add $200 to $500 | Specialist fee markup |
Crown cost added on top
After the root canal, your dentist or endodontist may also place a post-and-core buildup to give the crown something solid to anchor to if too much natural tooth structure was lost. This adds $150 to $400 to the total. The crown itself then runs $900 to $2,500 depending on material.
Combined cost: root canal plus crown
| Scenario | Root canal | Post and core | Crown | Total (no insurance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front tooth, general dentist, PFM crown | $900 | Not needed | $1,100 | $2,000 |
| Molar, endodontist, PFM crown | $1,400 | $250 | $1,200 | $2,850 |
| Molar, endodontist, zirconia crown | $1,400 | $250 | $1,800 | $3,450 |
| Molar, endodontist, gold crown | $1,400 | $250 | $1,600 | $3,250 |
How insurance handles root canal plus crown
Root canals are typically classified as "basic restorative" by many plans and covered at 80 percent after the deductible. Crowns are "major restorative" at 50 percent. This means insurance pays more of the root canal than the crown, but both are subject to your annual maximum. A $1,500 annual maximum can be consumed entirely by a single molar root canal plus crown, leaving nothing for any other dental work that year.
With a typical plan covering 80 percent of a $1,200 root canal and 50 percent of a $1,200 crown, insurance pays $960 plus $600, totaling $1,560 in benefits. Your share would be $240 plus $600 plus any deductible, totaling roughly $890 to $1,000 out of pocket. For a more expensive zirconia crown scenario, insurance still caps the crown benefit at the allowed amount for the less-expensive alternative material in many plans. Verify your plan's alternate benefit clause with your insurer.
Is saving the tooth worth the cost?
A root canal plus crown costing $2,500 to $3,500 compares favorably to tooth extraction followed by an implant, which typically costs $3,000 to $5,000 for the implant and crown combined. Preserving your natural tooth is almost always preferable both clinically and financially if the tooth structure and surrounding bone are sound. However, if the tooth is too damaged to save reliably or has severe bone loss from gum disease, extraction and replacement may be the better long-term choice. A licensed dentist or endodontist is the right person to make that determination for your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a root canal without a crown? Technically yes, but for molars and premolars, dentists strongly advise against it. An uncrowned root-canaled molar has a significantly higher rate of fracture, which can destroy the tooth entirely and require extraction. Front teeth may not always need a crown if sufficient tooth structure remains, but your dentist must evaluate this case by case.
How soon after a root canal do I need the crown? Most dentists recommend placing the permanent crown within 4 to 6 weeks of the root canal. A long delay with only a temporary crown in place increases the risk of fracture or recontamination of the treated root.
Does root canal and crown cost more with an endodontist? Yes, generally by $200 to $500 above a general dentist's fee for the root canal portion. However, endodontists use specialized equipment and have higher success rates for complex cases, and their fee may be covered at the same benefit level as a general dentist under most plans.
Bottom line
A root canal plus crown combined will cost most patients $1,500 to $3,500 out of pocket without insurance, and $750 to $1,800 with typical coverage. Preserving a natural tooth this way usually costs less than extraction and implant replacement over time. Use our dental crown cost calculator to model your combined cost, and consult a licensed dentist or endodontist to confirm whether your tooth is a good candidate for root canal treatment.
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