Fillings, Crowns and Root Canals: What Each One Costs
Restorative dentistry is where the money is and where the judgment calls live. Two competent dentists can look at the same tooth and propose different treatments, both defensible. Understanding the options makes you a participant in that decision rather than a spectator.
Fillings
| Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (tooth-colored) | $150 - 400 | The default now; bonds to the tooth, cosmetically invisible |
| Amalgam (silver) | $100 - 250 | Durable and cheap; use has declined sharply, and some practices no longer offer it |
| Inlay / onlay | $650 - 1,400 | Lab-made, between a filling and a crown |
Price scales with the number of surfaces involved. A one-surface filling is not the same procedure as a three-surface one, and the code on the bill will say which.
Crowns
A crown caps the whole tooth, and is recommended when too little healthy structure remains for a filling to hold — commonly after a root canal or a large fracture.
| Material | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Zirconia | $1,000 - 2,500 | Strength; the common choice for molars |
| Porcelain fused to metal | $900 - 1,800 | Older standard; can show a dark line at the gum over time |
| All-ceramic / e.max | $1,000 - 2,500 | Front teeth, best appearance |
| Gold | $1,200 - 2,800 | Extremely durable, kind to the opposing tooth, visible |
Get a second opinion before a multi-crown plan. A treatment plan proposing several crowns at once is a five-figure decision, and thresholds for crowning versus watching genuinely vary between practitioners. Take the written plan and the X-rays — both are yours — to another dentist. Second opinions in dentistry change the plan often enough to be worth the consultation fee.
Root canals
A root canal removes infected pulp from inside the tooth and seals it, saving a tooth that would otherwise be extracted. Price depends on the tooth: front teeth have one canal, molars have three or four and cost more. General dentists do many; endodontists are the specialists and charge more, and are the right call for retreatments and complex anatomy.
Budget for the crown afterward. A root-canaled molar almost always needs one, and people are frequently quoted the root canal price alone and then surprised by a second thousand-dollar bill.
Save the tooth or pull it?
Extraction is cheaper today and more expensive later. A gap causes neighboring teeth to drift and the opposing tooth to over-erupt, and replacing it properly with an implant runs several thousand dollars — usually more than the root canal and crown would have. Extraction is a reasonable choice when the tooth is not restorable or when finances are genuinely binding, but it should be a decision, not a default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do root canals hurt?
The procedure relieves the pain that brought you in. With modern anesthesia it is comparable to having a filling done; the reputation is decades out of date.
How long does a crown last?
Commonly ten to fifteen years or more, depending on material, bite and hygiene. Grinding shortens that considerably, and a night guard is cheap insurance.
Can I wait on a filling?
Decay does not reverse once it is through the enamel. Waiting turns a filling into a crown and eventually into a root canal. This is the one place where prompt action reliably saves money.
Why is my dentist's crown more expensive than one advertised nearby?
Material, lab quality and whether the office does same-day milling all move the price. Ask what material is being used and where the lab is.
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