Great. You’re laying back in the dental chair after just having a set of x-rays taken, and you hear your dentist say “it looks like that one is going to need a root canal.” What’s the best way to make sure you save as much money as possible, but still get the treatment your dentist recommends?
Avoid the Root Canal Altogether
The very best way to pay for a root canal is to prevent the infection from happening. While that isn’t always possible (as in the instances of an accident, or an old, leaky filling) it can sometimes be done. For instance, seeing your dentist regularly will allow him/her to diagnose cavities when they’re just beginning. At this point, it’s cheaper and less invasive to fill the cavity. Ignoring it and putting your filling off will lead to the decay expanding deeper into your tooth…causing an abscess, and requiring a root canal. Try to keep your dental visits every six months!
Putting a Root Canal Off Could Cost You
“My tooth doesn’t hurt. Why should I go ahead with a root canal if nothing seems wrong?”
Maybe you’ve asked this question before. If so, you’re not the first. Teeth that need root canals don’t always hurt. Unfortunately, putting the treatment off until the tooth is causing pain or is visibly damaged can mean you’ll need more complex therapy to repair it. By that point, it might not even be salvageable. Rather than restoring it with endodontic treatment, you may wind up paying for an extraction, a dental implant, and then a crown by the time it’s all said and done. Getting the root canal sooner would have been the cheapest thing to do.
Treatment Options Besides Getting a Root Canal
If you’re set against having a root canal, you’re left with one option: extracting the tooth. Pulling infected or abscessed teeth will prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth. An extraction can provide some immediate pain relief, but you’ll need to replace your missing tooth before the rest of your bite starts to shift out of place.
Payment Plans
Most dental offices will offer affordable monthly financing or even split your treatment up into two payments…even if you have dental insurance. You may want to ask your dentist if their office offers a cash discount. Sometimes, paying in full before your treatment or on the day of the appointment can save you a little money.
You can also check with your dentist to see if they recommend a specific medical credit card. A medical credit card is a type of credit card specifically designed to pay for healthcare expenses—like dental work, vision care, cosmetic procedures, vet bills (sometimes), and other out-of-pocket medical costs. It works like a regular credit card in that you borrow money to pay a provider, then pay the balance back over time. Another option could be a short-time loan from your bank or credit union.
If you have an HSA or FSA, that is typically one of the smartest ways to pay, because you’re using pre-tax dollars for an eligible medical expense. That can meaningfully reduce your effective cost, depending on your tax situation. The main limitation is that not everyone has these accounts, and you may not have enough saved to cover the entire procedure.
Will you need a crown?
Before you finalize your financial planning, check the estimate you got from the dental office and confirm whether a crown is needed afterward (many root canals require one). Then compare your likely out-of-pocket cost under insurance versus a dental savings plan discount, and only move to financing if needed. In many cases, the most cost-effective combination is a savings plan discount or insurance benefits plus a short-term payment plan to cover what’s left, if needed.
One final note: treating the tooth sooner is often the cheapest move. Delaying a root canal can lead to a more serious infection, more complex treatment, or even losing the tooth—which can quickly become far more expensive than the original procedure.
Get the Best Dental Insurance Coverage
Dental insurance or a dental discount plan like the ones at AetnaDentalOffers.com will greatly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. With Aetna dental insurance, the plan covers 50% on root canal treatment (but there may be a 12-month waiting period, depending on if you’ve had prior coverage.) With a dental discount plan (also known as a dental savings plan,) you save 20% on root canals, and can use your plan within three days of purchase. Explore your Aetna dental plan options now and ask how dental insurance or a dental discount plan can help make your root canal more affordable.