A molar root canal typically runs about 1,018 dollars at in-network PPO rates before insurance. How much of that the plan pays varies a lot. Some plans cover root canals at about 80 percent from day one, others at about 50 percent after a waiting period, and a few do not cover them at all. Once your deductible of about 50 dollars is met, your in-network share is often a few hundred dollars. These are illustrative figures, not a quote. Confirm your rate with your carrier before you book.
A root canal is often urgent. Here is how your plan can pay its share fast.
A root canal usually means infection or pain, so it rarely waits. The catch is that coverage swings widely by plan: some pay about 80 percent from day one, some pay about half after a wait, and a few pay nothing at all. This guide shows the typical cost, what your plan may pay, and which door on the hub fits your situation.
Root canal cost
What a root canal costs with insurance.
Quick answer
A molar root canal typically runs about 1,018 dollars at in-network PPO rates before insurance. How much the plan pays varies a lot, from about 80 percent on some plans down to nothing on others. Once your deductible of about 50 dollars is met, your in-network share is often a few hundred dollars. These are illustrative figures, not a quote.
| Step | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Molar root canal, in-network PPO rate | about $1,018 |
| Plan pays at about 80 percent, day one option | about $814 |
| Your deductible, if not yet met | about $50 |
| Your estimated share, day one option | about $254 |
| Your estimated share, 50 percent option | about $559 |
Illustrative example based on an in-network molar rate of about 1,018 dollars and a deductible of about 50 dollars that applies once. Your figures depend on your plan, the office fee, the tooth, and your remaining maximum. Estimate your own root canal cost.
How your PPO covers a root canal
How much your plan pays.
Root canals sit in the basic or major tier depending on the plan, and the coverage percentage is where plans differ most. As an illustrative comparison, Ameritas PrimeStar covers root canals at about 80 percent from day one with no waiting period. Humana Extend 5000 covers about 50 percent after a six month wait. UHC Primary Dental does not cover root canals at all. So before you book, two things decide your share. First, the coinsurance your plan applies to root canals. Second, the waiting period, since a six month wait means the plan pays nothing toward an urgent root canal until it clears.
A root canal is also commonly paired with a crown on the same tooth to protect it afterward. That raises the total, and the crown is usually billed as a separate major service. When you estimate, count both so the number reflects the full course of care. See how your plan covers the crown that follows.
Timing
Which door fits, Care now or Plan ahead.
If the tooth cannot wait, because of infection or pain, the timing is decided for you. The move is a plan that pays from day one. In our illustrative comparison, Ameritas PrimeStar at about 80 percent with no waiting period fits Door A, Care now, on the Benefit Maxing hub. Open Door A, Care now.
If the tooth can wait, and the root canal is part of larger work you are spacing out, a plan that covers about 50 percent after a six month wait, such as Humana Extend 5000, can still fit if you enroll early enough for the wait to clear. That is Door B, Plan ahead. Open Door B, Plan ahead.
Network
Why the same root canal costs less in your network.
A dentist in your PPO network has agreed to a negotiated fee for the root canal, usually lower than the full office fee, and the molar rate of about 1,018 dollars already reflects that in-network discount. The plan then pays its share against that lower fee. The same root canal at a dentist outside the network can cost noticeably more, and the plan may pay less of it. The carrier name alone does not confirm participation, so confirm the exact network with the office before treatment.
After your plan pays
Spread your share into monthly payments.
After your plan pays its share, your in-network part on the root canal is often a few hundred dollars, and more if a crown follows on the same tooth. If you would rather not pay it all at once, that balance can often be split into monthly payments, and some offices offer true 0% APR for eligible patients. Estimate your share for the root canal and any crown first, then compare your monthly options.
Every root canal guide
The complete root canal library.
Whatever you need to know about a root canal, from price to coverage to paying it off, has its own guide below. Start with cost, confirm what your plan pays, then plan the balance.
Root canal costWhat a root canal really costs in 2026, and how to pay monthly.
Cost with insuranceYour likely out-of-pocket once a PPO pays its share.
Cost without insuranceWhat you pay when paying cash, and how to lower it.
Insurance coverageDoes insurance cover a root canal, and how much.
Financing0% APR and monthly options for a root canal.
Financing, no credit checkNo credit check routes to pay a root canal monthly.
Payment plansMonthly payment plan options for a root canal.
Questions
Root canal cost and coverage questions.
Coverage varies widely. As an illustrative example, Ameritas PrimeStar covers root canals at about 80 percent from day one with no waiting period, Humana Extend 5000 covers about 50 percent after a six month wait, and UHC Primary Dental does not cover root canals. Always confirm the coverage percentage and any waiting period with your carrier before treatment.
It depends on the plan you chose. A plan with no waiting period on root canals, such as Ameritas PrimeStar in our illustrative example at about 80 percent, can pay its share from day one. A plan with a six month wait, such as Humana Extend 5000 at about 50 percent, will not pay toward an urgent root canal until that wait clears. If your treatment cannot wait, the day one option fits Door A, Care now, on the Benefit Maxing hub.
A dentist in your PPO network has agreed to a negotiated fee, which is usually lower than the full office fee, and the plan pays its share against that lower fee. The same root canal at a dentist outside the network can cost noticeably more, and the plan may pay less of it. The carrier name alone does not confirm participation, so confirm the exact network with the office before treatment.
The amount left after your plan pays, often a few hundred dollars in network, can usually be split into monthly payments, and some offices offer true 0% APR for eligible patients. A root canal is also commonly paired with a crown on the same tooth, which raises the total, so estimate your share for both first, then see monthly payment options.
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