Root canal is a major dental procedure, and in Australia it can be very expensive.
Because Medicare does not cover root canal, treatment can end up costing thousands if you are not careful.
However, private health insurance can cover root canal from around $3 a week.
How much does root canal cost in Australia?
The average cost of a root canal without a crown in Australia ranges from $2,000 to $3,400, according to the 2017 national dental fee survey. The cost of root canals with a crown are even higher. This total fee generally comprises the following expenses:
Assessment by an endodontist: $100 - $200
Root canal therapy: $1,700 - $2,700
Filling of the tooth after root canal therapy: $200 - $550
These costs will usually be reduced if a general dentist rather than an endodontist performs the procedure. On average, an endodontist will charge 20% to 30% more than a general dentist. It's also worth pointing out that re-treatment could cost up to one-third more than first-time root canal treatment, so keep this in mind when budgeting for the cost of the procedure.
Is root canal therapy covered by health insurance?
Private health insurance can cover the cost of root canal - you'll find root canal included in 'major dental' when you look through your extras cover. While it can be found in some cheaper policies, many of them come with very low annual benefit limits of around $400 or $500, so your private health insurer will only pay for some of your root canal treatment.
If you want to keep out of pocket expenses to a minimum, your best bet is to go for a more comprehensive extras policy. When shopping for a policy, always look at the annual limits and the amount you can expect to get back after a claim. The table below compares some policies that will cover root canal therapy, from as little as $3 a week. To compare even more policies, use the free tool at the bottom of this page. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
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Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
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$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
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*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
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Preventative & general dental
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Comparing quotes from 30+ funds...
Finder survey: What are the main reasons Australians of different ages have dental coverage?
Response
75+ yrs
65-74 yrs
55-64 yrs
45-54 yrs
35-44 yrs
25-34 yrs
18-24 yrs
Root canals
6.82%
2.91%
2.48%
1.18%
2.7%
2.11%
1.18%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
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Frequently asked questions
Root canal treatment, often referred to as root canal therapy, is a procedure to save a dead tooth. In more technical terms, it can be used to save a tooth that has infected or dead pulp. Importantly, root canal therapy can prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your mouth.
Each tooth contains pulp, which provides the nerves and nutrients that healthy teeth need. But if the pulp inside a tooth becomes infected or damaged, it may die.
During a root canal, the practitioner cleans out the infected or dead pulp from the tooth's root canal. The dentist then cleans and seals the root canal to provide protection against future infection. This includes the introduction of a permanent filling and the fitting of a crown to complete the procedure.
Your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic to ensure that the root canal treatment is painless, and after a successful procedure your tooth should function normally once again.
A root canal usually takes between 90 minutes and 3 hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure. Generally, it can be done in one appointment, though in some cases, you may need to visit the dentist or endodontist multiple times.
It's often the case that the first appointment is simply when the dentists will identify what the problem is. This usually involves an examination and possibly an x-ray. They also may give you a prescription for antibiotics to help stop infection and relieve your symptoms.
The good news is that the recovery period after root canal therapy is generally quite quick. Discomfort should be gone after a few days, so if you're still in pain after this period, then it may be necessary to contact your endodontist.
If you don't get root canal treatment, the infection can spread to other areas of the mouth. This puts you at risk of more serious dental problems and is likely to cost a lot more to fix. Left untreated, the infection can also cause a dental abscess. This puts you at risk of having a heart attack, stroke or sepsis, so requires immediate medical attention.
If you don't get root canal therapy, the only other way is to have your tooth extracted, but this is often still the less effective option. Neither fillings nor antibiotics can permanently resolve the problem either.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
If you want that perfect smile, you need to be aware of what your private health fund offers you.
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You pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching health insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
