I keep hearing this question more than almost anything else in dentistry — a tiny, hesitant voice asking, “What’s cheaper… the root canal or the crown?” And every time I hear it, I feel that quiet pause behind the question—a mix of worry and confusion. Like someone trying to decide which storm is gentler.
And maybe that’s why writing about root canal vs crown cost feels like I’m untangling threads late at night, slowly, carefully, hoping not to break anything as I pull.
Because teeth… they don’t warn you. They don’t tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, fix me before things get expensive.” They just hurt. Or crack. Or go silent until the damage is too serious. And then we’re here — talking numbers, options, repairs.
Let me explain everything as simply as possible, the way I would if you were sitting across from Sachin Mittal, shifting nervously in the chair.
Root Canal vs Crown – Understanding the Difference Before Counting the Cost
A root canal and a crown aren’t actually opposites — though people often treat them like two competing choices. They’re parts of a sequence, cousins in the treatment world. One handles the inside of the tooth. The other protects the outside.
A root canal cleans out the infection inside the tooth.
A crown protects the tooth from breaking after that.
You can have one without the other, but… no, that’s not quite right. You can, technically, but the tooth becomes fragile, almost hollowed out—a repaired house without the roof.
Which is why most people end up needing both. And this is precisely where the confusion about root canal vs crown cost begins — the costs stack, overlap, and divide.
Let’s wander through the details.
Why Root Canals Cost What They Cost
A root canal is like… removing the ghost of pain. That deep, throbbing infection that’s been haunting your days and nights. It takes time. Precision. Skill. Tiny files go into even tinier canals you can’t see, and somehow the dentist follows the path as if by instinct.
The cost depends on:
1.The tooth type
Front teeth cost less.
Molars — the big ones at the back — cost more because they have more canals. More canals mean more time, more skill, more work.
2.The infection level
A mild case feels like cleaning a dusty room.
A severe infection feels like clearing out a flooded basement.
3.The dentist’s expertise
Specialists cost more. But they also save teeth that others might lose.
4.Clinic location & technology
Different cities, different machines, different price ranges.
But compared to extraction — removing the tooth — a root canal keeps your natural tooth alive. And that matters more than people think.
Why Crowns Sometimes Feel More Expensive Than Expected
Crowns are strange things. They’re both practical and artistic. A little engineering, a tiny sculpture. They sit over your tooth like a shield — porcelain, ceramic, zirconia, metal, or mixed — each with its own cost.
The crown cost depends on:
1.Material
Zirconia (strong, aesthetic) is usually the most expensive.
Porcelain-metal mix is standard and mid-range.
Full metal crowns are cheaper but not always preferred.
2.Lab work
A crown isn’t made in the dental chair. It’s crafted in a lab by people who spend hours shaping a tiny, tooth-colored hat.
3.Durability expectations
Cheaper crowns don’t last as long.
Better crowns… well, they stay with you like an old friend.
This is where root canal vs crown cost gets tricky — sometimes the crown ends up costing more than the root canal itself. People get confused. “Why is the cap more expensive than fixing the infection?”
Because the crown is a custom-made, long-lasting restoration, it’s the armor after the battle.
Also read : Enamel Erosion Treatment – Causes, Symptoms, Stages & How to Restore Tooth Enamel Naturally
So… What’s More Expensive? Root Canal or Crown?
If you want the short answer, crowns often cost more.
But if you want the real answer — the long, honest whisper of truth — it depends.
A simple root canal on a front tooth might cost less than a good zirconia crown.
A complex molar root canal might cost more than a basic crown.
A specialist root canal plus a premium crown can cost the most.
So when people ask about root canal vs crown cost, naturally, as if the numbers will behave in some predictable way… I wish they would. But they don’t. It depends on the tooth, the damage, the infection, the material, and the clinic.
Still, here’s a simple breakdown:
Root Canal Cost Range (approx)
Lower for front teeth
Higher for molars
Extra charges for severe infections
Crown Cost Range (approx)
Lowest for metal
Mid for porcelain-fused-to-metal
Highest for zirconia or ceramic
Sometimes the total cost (root canal + crown) surprises people — but the alternative, removing the tooth, leads to even higher costs later: implants, bridges, shifting teeth, jaw problems—the slow, expensive domino effect.
Why You Might Need Both – Even If You Don’t Want To
A root canal cleans the infection but weakens the tooth walls.
A crown covers and protects the weakened tooth.
Like treating the illness and then giving the patient a coat so they don’t fall sick again.
Without a crown, a root canal-treated tooth can crack months or years later — and then the whole cost conversation starts again, only more intense.
Sachin Mittal says this often —
“A tooth with a root canal but no crown is like a repaired phone without a case.”
One bad drop and it’s gone.
Which One Should You Pay for First?
I’ve seen patients try to delay the crown because money is tight. It makes sense emotionally — the pain is gone after the root canal, so the urgency feels like it evaporates.
But waiting too long risks fractures.
Fracture risk extraction.
Extraction risks more cost.
If there’s one thing I wish every person understood about root canal vs crown cost, it’s this:
Saving the tooth now is always cheaper than replacing it later.
Hidden Costs People Don’t Think About
Dental treatments don’t end with the price on the bill. There are invisible costs:
- Time lost from work
- Pain from delayed treatment
- Emotional stress
- Future treatments if the tooth fails
- Cost of replacing a missing tooth
When you factor these in, the root canal + crown combination becomes the more cost-effective choice in the long term.
Making the Right Decision – The Simple, Human Version
Forget the technical part for a moment. Ask yourself:
Is the tooth worth saving?
If so, you need a root canal and a crown.
If no extraction and implant come in. And that’s… not cheaper.
The best way to compare root canal vs crown cost naturally is to compare it with the cost of losing the tooth.
Saving is almost always cheaper than replacing.
FAQs
1. Which costs more — root canal or crown?
Usually, the crown costs more, but complex molar root canals can be more expensive.
2. Why do I need both a root canal and a crown?
The root canal removes infection, and the crown protects the weakened tooth from breaking.
3. Can I delay the crown after getting a root canal?
You can, but it’s risky. The tooth can crack, leading to extraction and more expensive treatments.
4. Is it cheaper to remove the tooth instead?
At first, yes. But replacing a missing tooth (with an implant or a bridge) costs much more later.
5. What affects root canal vs crown cost?
Tooth type, dentist’s expertise, material of crown, severity of infection, and location of the clinic.