Worked Estimates and Checklists
Root canal and crown cost in Canada: a worked estimate with insurance and CDCP
Illustrative cost of a molar root canal, post and crown in Canada, how private plans and the CDCP pay for each part, and when extraction and an implant enter the comparison.
A root canal on a back tooth is often followed by a crown, and the two are priced and covered differently: the root canal is usually a basic service (often reimbursed at a higher percentage, such as 80%, by private plans), while the crown is a major service (often 50%, and subject to the annual maximum). The CDCP covers root canals and, for adults 18 and over with preauthorization and strict conditions, single crowns. In the illustrative example below, a molar root canal, core and crown total $2,900; a member of an illustrative group plan pays about $1,400, or about $1,085 if the crown falls in a new benefit year, and a CDCP member in the 0% tier pays mainly any extra charges. Comparing this with extraction plus an implant is a common decision point, so the guide shows that arithmetic too.
This guide is part of the guide to reading a dental treatment estimate. Fees are illustrative; ask your dentist which treatment is clinically appropriate.
The treatment and its codes
| Line | Service | Category in most plans | Illustrative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exam and periapical X-rays | Diagnostic | $150 |
| 2 | Root canal, molar (three canals) | Basic (endodontic) | $1,200 |
| 3 | Core build-up | Major or basic (varies) | $250 |
| 4 | Crown, porcelain or ceramic, professional fee | Major | $900 |
| 5 | Crown lab fee | Major | $400 |
| Total | $2,900 |
If the root canal is done by an endodontist (a specialist), the fee may be higher, and some plans reimburse specialist fees only at the general dentist level.
With a private group plan (illustrative)
Plan: diagnostic and basic at 80%, major at 50%, $50 deductible, $1,500 annual maximum, nothing used yet. Core treated as major.
| Line | Fee | Plan pays |
|---|---|---|
| Exam and X-rays | $150 | 80% × ($150 − $50) = $80 |
| Root canal | $1,200 | 80% × $1,200 = $960 |
| Core | $250 | 50% × $250 = $125 |
| Crown and lab | $1,300 | 50% × $1,300 = $650 |
| Total | $2,900 | $1,815 |
The plan's share of $1,815 exceeds the $1,500 maximum, so the plan pays $1,500 and you pay $2,900 − $1,500 = $1,400.
If the crown is placed after the benefit year resets, year 1 would pay $80 + $960 = $1,040 and year 2 would pay $125 + $650 = $775, a total of $1,815, so you would pay $2,900 − $1,815 = $1,085. A dentist may advise not to wait long before crowning a root-treated molar, so ask before planning around the calendar.
Your own result depends on your plan's percentages and maximum. Use the dental plan cost-share calculator for each category separately.
With the CDCP (illustrative CDCP fees)
The CDCP covers root canals as basic services, and single crowns only through preauthorization for clients aged 18 or older, on eligible teeth, after decay and gum disease have been treated, within limits of four crowns per 120 months and one per tooth per 96 months (2026 Dental Benefits Guide). Re-treatment of a root canal also needs preauthorization.
Assume CDCP fees of $130 (exam and X-rays), $1,050 (root canal), $200 (core) and $1,100 (crown including a reasonable lab fee), total $2,480, and the dentist's fees as above ($2,900).
| Tier | Co-payment | Extra charges | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | $0 | $2,900 − $2,480 = $420 | $420 |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 40% × $2,480 = $992 | $420 | $1,412 |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 60% × $2,480 = $1,488 | $420 | $1,908 |
If preauthorization for the crown is refused, the crown would be at your own cost or another option would be needed. See CDCP co-payments and extra charges.
Saving the tooth vs extraction and implant
| Path | Illustrative total | Group plan (example above) | CDCP 0% tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root canal, core and crown | $2,900 | You pay about $1,085 to $1,400 | You pay about $420 |
| Extraction and implant with crown | $5,600 | Depends on implant coverage; often you pay $4,000 or more | You pay the implant stages in full, about $5,300 |
| Extraction only | $300 | You pay about $60 | About $0 |
These numbers show why coverage rules can push decisions; the clinical question of whether a tooth can be saved predictably is one for your dentist or an endodontist. See implant vs bridge vs denture cost for replacement options.
Common surprises
- The crown is not booked yet. A root canal estimate may not include the crown; ask for the whole plan.
- Temporary crown fees. Sometimes separate.
- Re-treatment. If a previous root canal fails, re-treatment fees are usually higher.
- Specialist referral. Complex canals or retreatment may be referred to an endodontist with their own fees.
- Different plan categories. Some plans put cores or posts under basic, others under major.
FAQ
Do I need a crown after every root canal?
Not always; it depends on the tooth and how much structure remains. Back teeth are commonly crowned. Ask your dentist.
Why did my plan pay less for the specialist's root canal?
Some plans reimburse specialist services at the general practitioner fee guide amount. The difference is yours.
Can the CDCP pay for a crown on a front tooth for appearance?
No. Crowns for aesthetic reasons are not covered.
Is the root canal eligible for the medical expense tax credit?
Yes, unreimbursed amounts for dental treatment that is not purely cosmetic can be included.
Sources
- Canadian Dental Care Plan — crown conditions and preauthorization
- Canada Revenue Agency — eligible medical expenses
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario — patient resources
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec — Quebec patient information
