How much does a root canal cost in Australia?

Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure designed to save a damaged or infected tooth. If you think you may have signs of needing a root canal, one of the questions you’re likely to ask is, “how much does a root canal cost?”.

There are a number of factors that influence the cost of a root canal, including the complexity of the procedure and whether you also require a crown following your root canal.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the cost of a root canal in Australia, as well as exploring more about root canal treatments and why you might need a root canal in the first place.

How much does a root canal cost?

While the total cost of your root canal treatment will depend on a variety of factors, the average cost of a root canal procedure in Australia is between $900 and $3400 without a dental crown.

There are two main factors that can affect the cost of a root canal treatment:

• Location of the infected tooth:

This is one of the most significant factors in determining the price of your root canal treatment. If the diseased tooth is located in the front of your mouth, it will generally be less expensive to treat, as front teeth only have a single root. If the infected tooth is a molar, the cost of root canal will be higher, as molars often have three or more roots.

As you can probably imagine, the more roots in the tooth, the more work there is for your dentist, leading to a higher treatment cost.

• Complexity of the procedure:

If the tooth roots have a simple straight layout, the procedure is usually easier, and less costly. Also, if the infection has been present for a long time, it may be more difficult and require more appointments to resolve, leading to increased cost

What is a root canal?

When a tooth’s pulp - which contains essential vessels, tissue fibres and nerves that keep the tooth alive - becomes damaged or infected, it needs to be removed in order to preserve the dying tooth.

Root canal treatment is the dental procedure that replaces the damaged pulp with a root filling. This procedure is known as endodontic treatment.

The root canal process involves a few different stages, including removing decay and infection, shaping, filling and sealing the canals, and restoring functionality to the tooth. Read more about the stages of a root canal procedure here.

A root canal may need to be completed over more than one visit, which can affect the cost of the treatment.

What are the benefits of root canal treatment?

While many people find the prospect of root canal treatment somewhat daunting, this straightforward dental procedure is incredibly beneficial for both your oral and your overall health.

Here are some of the benefits of having a root canal treatment:

• Prevents tooth loss: By removing damaged or infected pulp, root canal treatment preserves a dying tooth without needing to have it removed and replaced.
• Prevents infection of surrounding teeth: Pulp infection can cause infection in the bone around the tooth and can occasionally spread to neighbouring teeth.
• Prevents degeneration of the jawbone: By avoiding the need to remove the tooth, root canals can also help to prevent complications of the jawbone, which can occur due to degeneration as a result of missing teeth.

If you’re unsure whether you might need a root canal, check out our blog post on the signs you may need to have root canal treatment.

Does private health insurance cover root canal treatment?

If you have a private health insurance policy, it’s important to check what dental extras are included in your health fund. Some policies will cover primary dental care such as dental check-ups, but exclude more complex dental procedures like root canals.

However, some more comprehensive health insurance policies will include major dental services, so you may want to upgrade to a higher level of cover if root canals aren’t covered by your existing policy.

It’s important to check the fine print and understand exactly what you’re covered for - if in doubt, call your health insurance provider.

Discuss what’s right for you and your dental health with a National Dental Care dentist

Root canal treatment can be one of the best ways to address severe tooth decay, alleviate pain and discomfort, and avoid tooth loss. What’s more, a root canal is a generally pain-free procedure, so there’s no need to be nervous!

Your local National Dental Care or DB Dental practitioner will be happy to chat to you about what’s involved in a root canal procedure and how much root canal treatment will cost. Find your local practice and book a consultation today.