Getting a root canal (endodontic treatment) completed can vary in cost, depending on where you live, which tooth needs treatment, and who your root canal dentist in Long Island is.
At Sachem Dental Group, we provide a detailed treatment plan to every patient prior to initiating any type of restorative care. That way you know exactly how much your Suffolk County root canal treatment will cost.
But root canals aren’t the same fee for every tooth. There are certain things that need to be kept in mind before we can give you a quote on endodontic fees. Here’s why:
The Number of Roots Vary Per Tooth
Just like the cost of a dental filling is dependent on how many surfaces of a tooth are being restored, the price of a root canal is based on the number of roots a tooth has. Your front teeth have one root, while back teeth usually have only two or three.
3 Common Misconceptions Regarding Root Canal Therapy (Opens in a new browser tab)
As such, it’s not surprising to learn that multi-rooted teeth tend to cost more to restore with a root canal than teeth that only have a single root. Even if some teeth traditionally only have a certain number of roots, there can be anomalies where there are extra roots and canals that need to be treated. That’s one reason why having an X-ray taken of your abscessed tooth is mandatory before initiating any type of restorative care.
Some Teeth Take Longer to Treat
Where your tooth is located can make a root canal “easier” or “harder” to complete. For example, a single-rooted anterior tooth in the front of your mouth is generally more straightforward to complete. But an upper molar (at the back of your mouth) can be challenging to see and reach, not to mention the fact that it has multiple roots that require treatment. More involved cases like molars require more time and resources when it comes to root canal treatment; that’s why those teeth usually cost more to repair than a tooth that’s easier to get to.
If a tooth takes longer to treat, it may not be something that your general dentist is comfortable with doing on their own.
You May Need to See a Specialist (Endodontist)
Do you have a tooth with a root canal that needs to be re-treated? Or a tooth with curved roots, where accessing the canals is going to require special equipment and skill? If so, a traditional general dentist might have to refer to you a specialist clinic where the treatment costs more.
Endodontists are root canal specialists. They’re general dentists with an extra 2-3 years of formal training in endodontic therapy and root canal treatment. Their practices are also devoted to endodontic therapy, so they’re usually equipped with the best technology for performing gentle and efficient root canal treatments on any tooth and any patient.
Fortunately, Sachem Dental Group offers multi-specialty general dentistry under one roof, reducing the total out-of-pocket expenses for the patients that we treat.
Dental Insurance Covers Root Canals at Various Rates
Did you know that the cost of root canal treatment can vary, depending on where you live? Driving to see a dentist in Long Island or Suffolk County may make your procedure more affordable than seeing one somewhere else.
Why is that the case? Because like other expenses, a lot of dental costs are affected by the cost of living in certain areas. Even dental insurance companies will base their allowances for your root canal treatment depending on which city and state you live in, and which tooth in the mouth it is you’re having treated.
That’s why it’s important to get a treatment estimate and insurance breakdown from your dentist before you start any type of dental treatment. Just bring a copy of your insurance card with you, and our Long Island office can coordinate with your carrier and do the math for you.
The average cost of a root canal is somewhere around $900, give or take. It can be a couple to three hundred more or less depending on the circumstances surrounding your oral health needs.
You’ll Need a Dental Crown Afterwards
A root canal treated tooth is preserved to last several more years. But it’s also more brittle and susceptible to wear, since it’s no longer vital. As such, the exposed enamel can start to chip or wear away quicker than normal.
To protect a tooth with a root canal, our Long Island dentist will need to place a crown (cap) over the tooth once endodontic therapy is completed. The type of crown you get will affect the overall cost of the process, as some materials may cost more than others.
Will You Need Adjunctive Services?
To get an overall estimate on the cost of your root canal treatment, you’ll probably want to include additional services that need to be performed at the same time. For example, you may want to include the price of a dental exam and X-ray prior to the procedure to itemize your total out of pocket costs.
Do you plan on getting sedation so that you can tune everything out during your appointment? The cost of dental sedation is a separate fee than that of your root canal. In fact, when your insurance claim is processed, each separate procedure is itemized with a unique code that the carrier uses to categorize and approve the type of services you receive. For example, the crown you get once the root canal is completed will be filed with a separate code, even though it’s on the same tooth.
Get an Honest Quote on Root Canal Costs
In Long Island, families trust the multi-specialty general dentistry team at Sachem Dental Group. We treat each person like a member of our own families. With attentive, honest care, you can get the experience you need and enhance your smile’s health at the same time. Call our Suffolk County dentists today for your root canal evaluation and complimentary price quote.