Does Delta Dental Cover Root Canals? What to Know About Costs and Coverage

A toothache has a way of getting your attention. Maybe it started as a little sensitivity when you drank something cold. Now it hurts when you chew, keeps you up at night or just won’t seem to go away. When your dentist tells you the problem has reached inside of your tooth and you might need a root canal, getting some relief is probably high on your list.

Then there’s the other kind of pain: figuring out what it’s going to cost.

The good news is that most dental insurance plans from Delta Dental of Arizona cover at least part of the cost of a root canal. How much you pay depends on your specific plan, the tooth being treated and other factors, such as whether you’ve met your deductible or annual maximum. Understanding your coverage can help you know what to expect before treatment begins. It’s also helpful to know what a root canal is treating and why your dentist is recommending one.

Why You Might Need a Root Canal

A cavity doesn’t always stay an easy fix like a filling. Decay can work its way through the hard layers of your tooth until it reaches the soft tissue at the center, called the pulp. If the pulp gets inflamed or infected, the filling you thought you needed can turn into a root canal instead. And cavities aren’t the only reason you might need a root canal. A crack or injury can cause enough damage to land you in the same spot.

The good news is that a root canal is designed to take care of the problem inside the tooth so you can keep the tooth itself. To do that, your dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp that’s causing trouble inside. They’ll then clean and fill the space to help protect it from another infection. Depending on the tooth and how complicated the treatment is, your dentist can also refer you to an endodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating the inside of the teeth, like the pulp or the nerves.

Why Root Canals May Be More Common as You Get Older

Your teeth have been along for the ride through a lot of meals, morning coffees and trips to the dentist. As you get older, some of those teeth might also have a longer dental history.

In other words, getting older gives certain dental problems more time to add up. That includes:

• Previous dental work
  Fillings, crowns, bridges and other restorations can protect and repair teeth, but they don’t prevent new problems from developing later.
• Cracks and wear
  Years of biting and chewing can weaken or damage a tooth, giving bacteria another way to reach the inside.
• Changes around your gums
  Gums can recede as you age, exposing the roots of your teeth to areas of decay that weren’t vulnerable before.

None of this means a root canal is an inevitable part of getting older. But the longer you’ve had your natural teeth, the more important it can be to keep up with regular dental care and address problems before they become more serious.

And when a problem does reach the pulp, a root canal may save a tooth rather than requiring it to be removed.

The Cost of a Root Canal

Without insurance, a root canal can cost around $500 to $1,800 or more. That’s a pretty wide range when you’re trying to get an idea of what might be coming out of your wallet. Part of the difference comes down to where you live and how complicated your case is. The specific tooth that needs the work can move the price, too.

Tooth	Why the cost can differ
Front tooth	Usually has one root and fewer canals to treat
Premolar	May have one or two roots and canals
Molar	Often has multiple canals and can be harder to reach

There’s one more number to think about before you start doing the math. The price you’re quoted for a root canal might not include everything needed to get that tooth back in working order. Say your back molar is the one causing all the trouble. The root canal takes care of the problem inside, but there isn’t enough healthy tooth left for a filling. Your dentist recommends a crown to protect what remains. Suddenly, you’re looking at the cost of two procedures to save one tooth.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?

Dental insurance often covers at least some of the cost of a root canal. But there isn’t one answer for how much. Every plan has its own rules for what it covers and how the cost is split between you and your insurance.

Root canals aren’t usually treated the same way as the preventive care you’re probably more familiar with. An exam or cleaning is typically covered at or close to 100%, while treatment like a root canal may be covered at a lower percentage. In other words, a treatment like a root canal can be covered by your dental plan, but the coverage may not pay for the entire treatment cost. That means seeing root canals listed in your benefit summary is good news, but you could still owe the dentist some money if you get a root canal.

It’s important to note that there might be another service on that bill, too. If your tooth needs a filling or crown after the root canal, that restoration is separate from the root canal itself. Your plan might cover multiple procedures, but not necessarily in the same way.

Understanding Your Out-of-Pocket Costs for a Root Canal

Even when your dental plan covers a root canal, you may still have a share of the cost. How much of your benefits you’ve already used that year, whether you’ve met your deductible and where you go for treatment can all affect what you pay.

Here’s what to look at:

• Deductible
  This is the amount you need to pay toward covered dental care before your plan starts sharing the cost. If you haven’t met yours yet, some of that amount could be part of what you pay for your root canal.
• Coinsurance
  This is the percentage of the bill you owe after your deductible is met. For example, if your plan covers 50% of major services, you’re responsible for the other half.
• Annual maximum
  This is the most your dental plan will pay toward covered care during a benefit year. A filling in February or a crown over the summer can have already used some of that amount, leaving less available when you need your root canal.
• Waiting periods
  Some plans require you to have coverage for a certain amount of time before they’ll pay for specific services. If a waiting period applies to root canals, when you need treatment can affect whether your plan helps pay.
• In-network vs. out-of-network care
  Dentists in your plan’s network agree to negotiated fees for covered services. Choosing an in-network dentist can help you get more from your benefits. If you need a root canal, you can use our tool to find an in-network dentist before scheduling a treatment.

Knowing what your benefits can cover ahead of time can make the financial side of treatment feel a little less uncertain. That way, you can focus more on taking care of your tooth and less on wondering what the bill will look like.

Choosing the Right Dental Plan

When you’re shopping for your own dental insurance, cleanings and exams are easy to plan for. A root canal? Probably not making next year’s to-do list. But unexpected treatment is one reason it’s worth looking at what a dental plan offers beyond routine care.

Think about what would happen if a bigger dental need came up tomorrow. Would you be comfortable covering most of a $500 to $1,800 root canal yourself? What if that tooth also needs a crown? A plan that helps with more involved care can give you some financial backup for the dental work you didn’t see coming.

That’s why it’s worth looking beyond the routine care when you compare dental plans. Several of Delta Dental of Arizona’s individual and family plans include coverage for root canals and other more involved dental care, so you can choose an option that fits your needs and budget.

You might never need a root canal, and hopefully you won’t. But choosing a dental plan that goes beyond routine dental care can help you feel more prepared if an unexpected dental problem comes up later.

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