How much does a root canal cost without insurance?
Sample root canal prices
We found no national cash price for a root canal from a government agency or research group. A university dental clinic does post its 2025-2026 patient fees, and that list makes a useful example. Prices at a private dental office near you may be higher or lower.
The list charges $850 for a root canal on a front tooth, which has one root. A bicuspid, which is a tooth in the middle of the mouth, costs $950. A molar, which is a large tooth in the back, costs $1,175. The list says each price excludes the final restoration, meaning the filling or crown that goes on the tooth afterward.
Public programs pay dentists less than those fee-list prices. North Dakota Medicaid's schedule dated July 1, 2026 pays a dentist $778.14 for a child's molar root canal, and it covers that service only through age 20. Montana Medicaid's schedule dated July 1, 2025 pays $553.28. Medicaid pays dentists these amounts, so they are not prices a patient would pay in cash.
What a root canal does
MedlinePlus is a health site from the National Library of Medicine. It says a root canal removes dead or dying nerve tissue and germs from inside a tooth. The treatment is for an infection of the pulp, which is the soft center of the tooth. It can save a tooth that might otherwise need to come out.
The American Dental Association's Mouth Healthy site lists the steps. The dentist numbs the area, opens the top of the tooth and removes the nerve. Next, the dentist cleans the inside and fills the canals. A temporary filling goes in, and at a later visit a permanent filling or a crown replaces it.
We cannot tell you whether you need a root canal, because a dentist decides that from your symptoms and X-rays.
Why the price changes from tooth to tooth
Front teeth have one root and molars have more, so molars take more time. The fee list above climbs from $850 to $1,175 for that reason. A tooth with an old filling, a crack or an earlier root canal can also be harder to treat.
For an infection, MedlinePlus says a dental specialist called an endodontist should examine the tooth. An endodontist is a dentist with extra training in the inside of teeth. A general dentist and a specialist may charge different amounts for the same tooth. Ask who will do the work and what that office charges.
Some parts of the visit may be billed on their own. Ask about the exam, the X-rays, the numbing and any medicine the dentist prescribes.
The crown or filling comes on top of the root canal
The root canal itself is only part of the cost. MedlinePlus says a root canal must be followed by a permanent restoration. The Mouth Healthy site says a crown is often placed to protect the tooth. Our guide on the dental crown cost shows how those fees are built.
When you ask for a price, ask for the full plan. That plan includes the root canal, a temporary filling and then a permanent filling or crown. The total can be far more than the first number you hear.
Some people compare the plan with the cost of having the tooth pulled instead, and a dentist decides which fits your tooth. Our guide on tooth extraction cost covers the other side of that choice.
Questions to ask before you agree
A root canal often comes up when someone is in pain, and that is a hard time to compare prices. A short list can help you stay calm on the phone. Say you pay without insurance, and ask for the self-pay price.
- Ask which tooth it is and whether the price is for that tooth type.
- Find out whether the price includes the exam and X-rays, plus the numbing.
- Learn what the final filling or crown costs and when it would happen.
- Check whether you will need a specialist and what the specialist charges.
- If you will need medicine afterward, ask the dentist to name it so a pharmacist can quote you a cash price.
The Mouth Healthy site says the tooth may be sensitive for a few days, and that antibiotics may be prescribed if an infection has spread. Medicine is a separate cost, and a pharmacist can tell you the cash price before you buy it.
Under federal rules, you can also ask for a written good faith estimate when you schedule care at least three business days ahead. It lists the expected costs in one place.
Ways to pay less for a root canal
Dental school clinics treat patients with students and licensed teachers watching. One such clinic says student fees run 40 to 60 percent lower than private practice fees. Ask whether the clinic does root canals, since some handle only certain teeth. Also ask the office how long the wait is.
Community health centers adjust fees by income, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Not every center has a dentist who does root canals, so ask what is offered. Our community health centers guide explains how to find one. Our guide on dental care without insurance lists more low-cost places to try.
A payment plan can also help, so ask whether it adds interest or fees. The phone script in our guide on asking for the cash price works for dental offices too.
Signs a tooth infection is an emergency
The Foundation lists physicians in its directory and does not list dentists. A doctor can still look at a swollen face or jaw and help you decide where to go next. Our site lets you search for a cash-pay doctor close to you.
Untreated abscesses can lead to life-threatening complications, according to MedlinePlus. If a tooth infection comes with a fever and swelling in your face and you cannot reach a dentist, go to an emergency room. Trouble breathing or swallowing is a reason to call 911 or go to the ER right away, because the infection may be spreading. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER in any emergency.
Common questions
Is a root canal cheaper than pulling the tooth?
Pulling a tooth usually costs less up front. On one university dental clinic's 2025-2026 fee list, a simple extraction is $175 and a molar root canal is $1,175. A root canal also needs a filling or crown, and your dentist decides which choice fits.
Why is a molar root canal so much more?
Molars have more roots and more small canals to clean, so the work takes longer. One university dental clinic's fee list shows the price rising from front teeth to molars. Ask your own dentist for the price of your tooth.
Does Medicare pay for a root canal?
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care, according to Medicare. It may cover some dental services tied to a covered medical treatment. Call Medicare or your plan to ask about your case.
Can I get a root canal at a dental school?
Some dental schools offer them, with students working under licensed dentists. Others send hard cases to a specialist clinic. Call and ask about the fee, the wait and the number of visits.
Does the price include the crown?
Many quotes for a root canal leave the crown out. The fee list we used says its root canal prices exclude the final restoration. Always ask for the root canal and the crown or filling as one written plan.
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or tax advice. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.