How to Save the Most on Root Canals and Crowns with Your Plan
Root canals are needed when the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or inflamed. You can use your Careington Care 500 plan for this procedure.
If your dentist says you need a root canal, here are the steps to treatment:
Dentist or endodontist (dental specialist) examines and takes x-rays of the infected tooth.
Root canal is performed. Dentist will:
Numb the tooth with a local anesthetic
Place a protective sheet around the tooth to keep it clean and dry
Drill a small hole into the opening of the crown of the tooth
Clean out the pulp within the tooth and shape the inside for a filling
Fill the canal with a temporary filling
Temporary crown is placed on top
Patient returns for a second visit where the dentist places the crown onto the corrected tooth and does any other restoration on the tooth to protect it..
Disclaimer: Some teeth do not need a crown after a root canal. Talk to your dentist about your treatment plan.
The Root Canal
Below is a sample dental bill for a patient who had one root canal and used the Careington Care 500 plan. This patient saw a specialist. You will see the bill listed below, and directly following we have also included a sample bill for a general dentist performing the same procedure since some general dentists will do the root canal themselves.
To see exact savings in your area at a general dentist, visit our fee schedule and enter your zip code
To see exact savings in your area at a general dentist, visit our fee schedule and enter your zip code
In this case, two x-rays were needed to examine the infected tooth, which was in the back of the mouth. There are times that general dentists will refer their patients to a specialist if the treatment is going to be more difficult or time-consuming to perform, like a root canal in the back of the mouth.
If a crown is needed after the procedure, your dentist will place a temporary crown on the infected tooth until a permanent crown can be made, which usually takes about 3 weeks. Once the crown has been received, you will return for the final restoration of your tooth and get the permanent crown.
The Crown
Below is the dental bill for the second visit. In this case, a white crown (resin-based composite) was used and core buildup was needed.
To see exact savings in your area at a general dentist, visit our fee schedule and enter your zip code
To see exact savings in your area at a general dentist, visit our fee schedule and enter your zip code
Some additional costs you might see on
your own dental bill include:
- Core Buildup (ADA code: 2950)
- Prefabricated Post and Core in Addition to the Crown (ADA code: 2954)
- Additional Pins (ADA code: 2951)
- Laboratory Fees
These additional materials might be needed if the tooth has so much decay that there isn’t enough support for the crown after the pulp is removed and supplemental support is needed, or if the dentist is charged by a third-party dental laboratory for producing the dental crown.
What to Know About Lab Fees
Your dentist may or may not be charged by the dental lab for making the crown. If they are, lab fees can be anywhere between $100-$250. This cost will be passed to the patient. These prices are not discounted because it is a third-party expense.
If you need a crown, ask your dentist if you will incur the cost of the crown being made and how much that will cost so you are informed beforehand.
Find out more about the different types of crowns you may have to choose from.
