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Root Canal Cost With Private Health Insurance
Root Canal Cost With Private Health Insurance
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCompare Health Insurance Policies
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What is a root canal?
Long story short
As of October 2025, a root canal could set you back anywhere from around $950 to $3,700
The cost depends on the tooth’s location, your location, and the complexity of the job.
Private health insurance can help take the bite out of the cost
Extras cover with major dental can help pay for root canal therapy.
Waiting periods of up to 12 months typically apply for major dental
If you’re new to cover or upgrading, you’ll likely have to wait.
What is a root canal?
A root canal sounds scary, but it’s a pretty standard dental procedure designed to save a badly damaged or infected tooth.
Every tooth has tiny spaces called root canals that run from the crown to the root, and some teeth can have up to four. They’re filled with pulp, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels. Root canal therapy works by removing the infected or damaged pulp (that’s the soft stuff inside your tooth).
More specifically, your dentist or an endodontist will clean out the infection, shape the canals, and fill them up to stop the problem in its tracks and keep your tooth intact. Once it’s all sorted, they’ll pop on a filling or crown to protect the tooth and get it back to doing its job.
The whole point is to get rid of the infection and pain without having to pull the tooth out. After all, keeping your natural teeth is usually the preferred option before resorting to tooth extraction.
How much does a root canal cost?
The cost of a root canal in Australia can vary quite a bit, depending on a few things like which tooth needs the work, how tricky the procedure is, and where you’re located. As of October 2025, you could be looking at anywhere from $950 to $7,150 on average per tooth. Let’s break it down.
Location of the infected tooth
This is one of the biggest factors in determining the price of your root canal therapy. If the problem tooth is at the front of your mouth, it’ll generally cost less to treat, since front teeth only have a single root. But if it’s a molar causing the drama, the price tag will be higher because molars often have three or more roots.
The more roots in the tooth, the more work your dentist has to do – which means a higher cost.
| Root canal | Approximate price range |
| One root canal with a filling | $950–$1,950 |
| Two root canals with a crown | $2,950–$5,300 |
| Three root canals with a filling | $1,800– $3,850 |
| Four root canals with a crown | $3,700–$7,150 |
Complexity of the procedure
If the tooth roots are nice and straight, the procedure is usually easier and less expensive. But if the infection has been hanging around for a while or the roots are curved or tricky to access, it might take more time and appointments to sort out, which can bump up the cost.
Your location
Where you live can also play a big role in the cost of a root canal. Dentists based in different states have varying costs – Western Australia and Northern Territory tend to have lower dental costs compared to New South Wales and Victoria.
| State | Approximate price range |
| ACT | $1,250 –$7,150 |
| NSW | $1,100–$6,850 |
| NT | $1,050–$4,800 |
| QLD | $1,150–$6,750 |
| SA | $1,050–$5,650 |
| TAS | $1,200–$5,900 |
| VIC | $1,100–$6,950 |
| WA | $950–$5,350 |
Wherever you are in Straya, it’s worth shopping around and comparing prices to find a solid option for your budget.
Are there other out-of-pocket costs for a root canal?
While the root canal therapy itself is the main event, there are often other costs to consider. It’s always worth having a chat to your dentist to see what costs could look like, as a root canal treatment will involve different things like initial consultation, X-rays, anaesthetics, and potentially multiple appointments.
- Before your dentist even starts with the actual root canal, you’ll likely need a consultation and some X-rays to see exactly what’s going on inside your infected tooth. These initial appointments come with their own fees. But if you have private health insurance, specifically dental cover as part of extras policy, then things like dental consultations, check-ups, and examinations could be covered.
- The treatment might take a few visits to complete, and each visit could have an associated cost. Unfortunately, it’s not always a one-and-done deal, and as we’re going to talk about in a sec, sometimes complications could happen.
Are there other costs after a root canal?
Here are some other costs that you might need to think of after your root canal.
How long will I have to wait for a root canal?
Let’s break this down into two parts: how long you’ll wait to see a dentist and the waiting periods with your health fund.
Is there a waitlist involved with root canals?
Most dental work in Australia, including root canals, is handled in the private system. That means you’re not likely to be stuck on a public waiting list for months. The only wait is usually just getting an appointment with your dentist or endodontist. And let’s face it, when your tooth’s throbbing, waiting around isn’t exactly an option!
Do I need to serve a waiting period with my health fund?
So, here’s the thing. For extras policies, which includes dental cover, the waiting periods can vary between insurers. (Unlike with hospital cover, health funds aren’t mandated to have waiting periods for extras). General dental for routine stuff like check-ups usually has a waiting period of around two months, while major dental (which often covers root canals) often has a waiting period of up to 12 months (or more).
Helpful tip
Sorting out health cover doesn’t have to leave you feeling sore. The key is understanding your policy and knowing exactly what’s covered – and what’s not – so there are no surprises along the way.
Don’t assume all policies are the same. Even if they look similar, things like waiting periods and limits can vary a lot.
And if you’re not sure about something, ask questions. Reach out to your insurer or – if you’re shopping around – get in touch with our health insurance comparison experts, who can clear up any doubts and help you get suitable cover.
With iSelect, you can compare policies without ever feeling like it’s a grind.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
Does private health insurance cover root canals?
Private health insurance can really take the bite out of root canal costs, and you’ll usually need extras cover that includes more than the basic level of dental services (usually known as ‘general dental’).
For root canals, you’ll likely need to look for the category ‘major dental’, though the wording could vary depending on your health fund.
Your policy might also help cover other costs linked to root canals, like dentist consultations, X-rays, and fillings (under general dental) and crowns (under major dental).
If you need more treatment down the track (if you’re unlucky enough to have complications from your root canal), major dental (or sometimes general dental) can also take care of things like tooth extractions.
What level of health insurance do I need to cover root canals?
Figuring out health insurance doesn’t have to grind your gears. When you’re looking at extras cover, you’ll see dental cover is usually split into different categories.
- Major dental: This is for the more complex and expensive procedures. It typically covers things like crowns, bridges, and surgical extractions. Root canal treatment falls squarely into this category.
- General dental: This covers the routine stuff like consultations, examinations, X-rays, and fillings.
It’s always worth reading the policy details carefully to understand what’s included and what the benefit limits are.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover root canals?
Generally, no, Medicare doesn’t cover root canals. Unless you’re under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (that’s for kids up to 17), you’re mostly on your own. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services for adults – and that includes root canals. Public dental services are pretty limited, and they usually come with long waitlists and strict rules about who’s eligible.
How long does recovery from a root canal take?
Recovery is usually pretty quick. You might have some sensitivity or mild discomfort for a few days after the procedure, but it’s typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
While most people are back to normal within a week, it’s worth asking your dentist or endodontist what sort of pain relief you can take (should you need it) and all things around after-care.
But the good news is that the procedure, and what comes after, are a lot less painful than the toothache that led you there!
Does a root canal hurt?
Surprisingly, not really! Despite its scary reputation, a root canal in the dentist’s chair is usually pain-free. It’s the infection in the tooth that usually causes the pain, so you won’t feel a thing during the procedure itself, especially since your dentist will use anaesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area.
Afterwards, it’s normal to feel a bit tender or sensitive for a few days as your tooth heals. Over-the-counter pain relief can help take the edge off if needed.
Your tooth might feel a little different compared to the others for a while, but if the pain gets worse or sticks around for more than a few days, it might be time to give your dentist a call.
Health cover doesn’t have to be a pain in the jaw
Figuring out private health insurance can feel a bit overwhelming – we get it! Think of it as a little teething problem you need to work through to make sure your dental cover – and your pearly whites – remain gap-free. iSelect is here to help. You can compare policies without ever leaving you gnashing your teeth. Jump online to use the iSelect comparison tool or give our friendly team a buzz on 1800 784 772 to get started!
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