How Much Does a Root Canal and Crown Cost in Farragut, TN?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The number that matters is the combined bill, not the root canal quote by itself. Most back teeth need a crown after treatment, and that second phase is billed separately, which is why so many patients feel blindsided by the total.
- Root canal alone: roughly $700 to $1,500, with molars costing the most because they have three or four canals to clean instead of one.
- Crown afterward: the national average for a porcelain crown is $1,399, with a range of $915 to $3,254 according to CareCredit.
- Combined bill for a molar: commonly $1,900 to $3,000 before insurance in the Knoxville area.
- Insurance treats the two phases differently: root canals are often covered at 50 to 80 percent, crowns usually closer to 50 percent, and both draw from the same annual maximum.
The combined root canal and crown cost in Farragut, TN typically lands between $1,600 and $3,000 before insurance. The root canal itself runs $700 to $1,500 depending on tooth position, and the crown that most back teeth need afterward adds roughly $900 to $1,500 more. For a PPO patient who has met the deductible, the realistic out-of-pocket total for both phases together usually falls between $800 and $1,600, depending on coverage percentages and the annual maximum.
What Does the Root Canal Cost by Itself in the Knoxville Area?
A root canal by itself usually costs $700 to $1,500, depending on which tooth needs treatment. CareCredit lists the national average at $1,165, with a range from $500 to $1,800. Delta Dental also shows that front teeth are the least expensive, while molars are the most expensive.
| Tooth position | Typical charge (Delta Dental) | Why the difference |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth (incisor or canine) | About $1,200 | One root, one canal, easiest access |
| Premolar | About $1,300 | One or two canals, moderate access |
| Molar | About $1,500 | Three or four canals, hardest to reach |
The price difference is due to time and anatomy. Front teeth have one canal that’s easy to reach. Molars are in the back and have three or four canals, some of which are curved, and each one must be cleaned, shaped, and sealed. More canals mean more time in the chair, which increases the cost. Delta Dental notes that the root canal fee usually includes all appointments and X-rays needed to finish the treatment, no matter how many visits. However, it does not include the restoration that follows.
Why Is the Crown a Separate Charge?
The crown is billed separately because it is indeed a separate procedure that solves a different problem. Plenty of patients feel awkward asking about this, so here is the plain version. The root canal treats the inside of your tooth: the infected pulp comes out, the canals get cleaned and sealed, and the pain source is gone. The crown rebuilds the outside. According to the American Association of Endodontists, after the root canal is complete, a crown is placed on the tooth to protect it and restore it to its original function.
It’s similar to fixing a house. The root canal is like a plumber repairing a burst pipe inside a wall. The crown is like a contractor rebuilding the wall afterward. You wouldn’t expect the plumber’s bill to include drywall, but in dentistry, the two steps happen so close together that the second charge can feel unexpected. It’s not an extra fee. A back tooth that has had a root canal loses some of its strength and handles a lot of chewing pressure every day. The crown protects it from cracking.
What Does the Crown Add to the Bill?
Expect the crown to add roughly $900 to $1,500 for most patients, though the full range is wider. CareCredit reports a national average of $1,399 for a porcelain crown, with a range of $915 to $3,254 depending on material, provider, and location. East Tennessee generally sits below the pricier coasts, which is why local totals tend to cluster in the middle of that national range.
There are two extras that can increase the crown cost. If your tooth has lost a lot of structure, your dentist might need to do a core buildup to support the crown, which is billed separately. We explain buildups and crown materials in more detail in our dental crown cost guide for West Knoxville, which is helpful if you want a deeper breakdown of crown costs.
The Combined Bill: What a Farragut Patient Should Actually Budget
For a molar, the total cost before insurance is usually $1,900 to $3,000. Here’s a breakdown by tooth type, using the national numbers mentioned earlier.
| Scenario | Root canal | Crown | Combined (before insurance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front tooth, filling only* | $700 to $1,200 | $0 (filling instead, modest cost) | Roughly $800 to $1,400 |
| Front tooth with crown | $700 to $1,200 | $900 to $1,400 | $1,600 to $2,600 |
| Premolar with crown | $800 to $1,300 | $900 to $1,500 | $1,700 to $2,800 |
| Molar with crown | $1,000 to $1,500 | $900 to $1,500 | $1,900 to $3,000 |
*Not every root canal tooth needs a crown. Front teeth take less chewing force, so a filling can sometimes restore them if enough healthy structure remains.
One important note: not every tooth that gets a root canal needs a crown. Front teeth don’t handle as much chewing force as molars, so if there’s enough healthy tooth left, a filling might be enough. Your dentist will decide based on how much tooth remains. Back teeth are different. Molars and premolars do most of the chewing, and skipping the crown on those teeth can put your root canal at risk, as we’ll explain below.
What Will a PPO Plan Cover for Each Phase?
Most PPO dental plans pay different percentages for each phase, which can make the final bill surprising. Delta Dental says many plans cover 50 to 80 percent of the cost of a root canal after you meet your deductible. Crowns are usually considered a major procedure and are often covered at about 50 percent, but each plan is different. Both procedures count toward your annual maximum, which is often $1,000 to $2,000 per year, so having both done can use up most of your yearly benefit.
A worked example, so the math is visible
Here’s an example for a Farragut patient with a PPO plan, a $50 deductible already partly used, and a molar that needs both procedures. These are sample numbers, not an official quote:
- Root canal (molar): $1,500 billed. Plan covers 60 percent, so insurance pays $900 and you pay $600.
- Crown: $1,399 billed. Plan covers 50 percent, so insurance pays about $700 and you pay about $700.
- Remaining deductible: $50 paid by you.
- Your estimated total: $600 + $700 + $50 = about $1,350 out of pocket.
Notice the catch: insurance in this example paid about $1,600. If the plan’s annual maximum is $1,500, it stops paying at $1,500 and the overflow lands on you. This is why the smartest move before scheduling is asking your dental office to submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer. You get the real numbers for your specific plan in writing, and there are no surprises in the chair.
|
Worth checking before you book: your remaining annual maximum. If it is late in the year and your maximum is nearly used, some patients complete the root canal now and schedule the crown in January against a fresh benefit year. Ask your dentist if that timing is safe for your tooth, because a long delay carries its own risk.
|
Can Both Phases Really Fit Around a Work Schedule?
Yes, and this is where the crown phase has changed the most in recent years. Traditionally the crown meant two visits: one for impressions and a temporary crown, then a second a few weeks later to cement the permanent one. For a commuter heading to Oak Ridge or downtown Knoxville every morning, that is two more mornings off work on top of the root canal itself.
Knox Valley Dental handles this differently for many cases. The practice mills crowns in the office with CEREC technology, so once your tooth is ready for its crown, the design, milling, and placement happen in a single appointment. For working patients in Farragut, Concord, and Lenoir City, that compresses the whole root canal plus crown timeline into fewer visits, and Thursday evening hours until 7 pm mean the crown appointment does not have to come out of a workday at all. If dental visits make you tense, nitrous oxide is available to take the edge off either phase.
One honest note: a same-day crown is not automatically the right call for every tooth. Front teeth, in which appearance is everything, and certain complex cases, can be better served by a lab-made crown. We compared the two head to head in our guide to same-day CEREC crowns versus traditional lab crowns, and a good dentist will tell you when the slower option is the better one.
What Happens If You Delay or Skip the Crown?
Delaying the crown is one of the documented reasons root canal treated teeth fail. The American Association of Endodontists lists a delayed crown or restoration among the causes of a treated tooth not healing properly, alongside new decay reaching the filling material and cracks that let bacteria back in. In plain terms: the root canal removed the infection, but until the crown is on, the tooth is a sealed but unprotected shell.
There is also a quiet danger built into how root canals work. Because the nerve is gone, the treated tooth cannot warn you with pain. A crack can spread or decay can creep in with no signal at all, and by the time something feels wrong, you may be looking at retreatment or an extraction. That turns a $1,900 to $3,000 project into a considerably bigger one. If you have already had the root canal and the crown keeps sliding down your to-do list, treat it as unfinished business rather than optional polish. And if you are recovering right now, our root canal recovery guide covers what the first week should feel like.
|
“When a patient asks what a root canal costs, they deserve the whole answer, and the whole answer includes the crown. I would rather someone hear the full number from us up front than get halfway through treatment and feel like the price changed on them.”
Dr. Dhiren Zaveri, Knox Valley Dental
|
Knox Valley Dental offers comprehensive, gentle and five star rated dental care to families in the Knoxville - Farragut area. We prioritize patient comfort and outstanding oral health.
- Knoxville Family & Preventive Dental Care
- Knoxville Implant & Teeth Replacement Dental Care
- Knoxville Cosmetic Dental Care
- Knoxville Clear Braces Orthodontic Dental Care
- Knoxville Emergency Dental Care
- Read Our Reviews
- Meet Our Dentists
11840 Kingston Pike Suite A, Knoxville, TN 37934 - Directions