Without Insurance CostSelf-pay prices, sourced and dated

Retreatment cost

Root canal retreatment cost, front tooth to molar

Root canal retreatment cost without insurance is about $810–$1,800 on a front tooth, $930–$2,050 on a premolar and $1,150–$2,500 on a molar. If the molar also needs a buildup and a new crown, the total is roughly $2,350–$5,100.

Without Insurance Cost editorial teamUpdated 7 sources

Estimator

Root canal retreatment cost estimator

Choose the tooth and your area

Typical self-pay price$1,800range $1,150–$2,500
Self-pay price range
  • Low $1,150
  • Typical $1,800
  • High $2,500
Typical price for each part
D3348 Root canal retreatment, molar$1,150–$2,500
Total range$1,150–$2,500

How it is calculated. National low, typical and high fee for the retreatment code (D3346 front tooth, D3347 premolar, D3348 molar; plus D2950 buildup and D2740 all-ceramic crown when chosen) × your area's geographic adjustment factor. See the methodology.

Root canal retreatment cost by tooth

Retreatment typically costs $1,300 on a front tooth, $1,450 on a premolar and $1,800 on a molar at national self-pay prices. Root canal retreatment is a second root canal on a tooth that has already had one, and it has its own procedure code for each tooth type, separate from a first root canal.

Self-pay root canal retreatment prices, U.S. national average (2026 dollars)
ToothLowTypicalHigh
Front tooth D3346$810$1,300$1,800
Premolar D3347$930$1,450$2,050
Molar D3348$1,150$1,800$2,500
Molar retreatment + buildup + new ceramic crown$2,350$3,650$5,100

How these bands are built. The VA's 2026 schedule of reasonable dental charges gives the 80th-percentile U.S. charge for each dental code, built on FAIR Health data: $1,561 for retreatment of a front tooth (D3346), $1,788 for a premolar (D3347) and $2,169 for a molar (D3348).[1] Our low, typical and high fees are those charges × 0.52 / 0.82 / 1.16, the median ratio of our independently sourced fees to the VA charge across 15 codes; see the methodology. For a reality check, the median self-paid root canal visit in 2024 cost about $900.[3]

Retreatment vs a first root canal

Retreating a tooth costs more than treating it the first time, by about $200 on a front tooth and $300 on a molar at typical national fees. The comparison below uses the same fee method for both.

Typical national fees: first root canal vs retreatment
ToothFirst root canalRetreatmentDifference
Front tooth$1,100$1,300+$200
Premolar$1,250$1,450+$200
Molar$1,500$1,800+$300
Molar with buildup and crown$3,350$3,650+$300

First-time prices, school clinic fees and the buildup are on the root canal cost page.

Retreatment with a new crown

If the tooth's crown has to come off or be replaced, a molar retreatment with a buildup and a new all-ceramic crown typically totals $3,650. After any root canal the tooth is restored with a crown or a filling, according to the American Association of Endodontists,[2] so ask your dentist whether your existing crown can stay before you compare quotes.

Molar retreatment with a new crown, line by line (typical national fees)
StepCodeTypical
Root canal retreatment, molarD3348$1,800
Core buildupD2950$360
All-ceramic crownD2740$1,500
Problem exam and a single X-ray, if billed separatelyD0140 + D0220$150

Retreatment vs extraction and replacement

Pulling the tooth is the cheapest choice on the day, but pulling it and filling the gap with an implant or a bridge costs more than retreating it. The American Association of Endodontists says saving a natural tooth is generally less expensive than replacing it.[2] The table shows up-front prices only; whether a tooth can be retreated is your dentist's call, and this site compares prices only.

One failing molar: up-front cost of each path (national, 2026 dollars)
PathLowTypicalHigh
Retreat it (no new crown)$1,150$1,800$2,500
Retreat it + buildup + new crown$2,350$3,650$5,100
Pull it only (simple extraction)$150$240$350
Pull it + single implant with crown$3,950$5,990$8,350
Pull it + 3-unit bridge$2,950$4,690$6,600

Extraction prices, including surgical extractions, are on the tooth extraction cost page. Replacement options are priced in detail at single tooth implant cost and dental bridge cost without insurance.

Root canal retreatment cost by area

Where you live moves the price: the same molar retreatment costs less in low-cost states than in high-cost metros. The rows apply each area's cost factor to the national fees.

Molar retreatment, and with buildup and new crown, by area
AreaMolar retreatment, typicalWith buildup + crown, range
U.S. national average$1,800$2,350–$5,100
Alabama$1,650$2,150–$4,650
Indiana$1,700$2,200–$4,800
Arizona$1,750$2,250–$4,950
Florida: Fort Lauderdale$1,850$2,400–$5,300
New Jersey: Northern New Jersey$2,000$2,550–$5,650
Washington: Seattle (King County)$2,050$2,650–$5,750

Ways to pay less for retreatment

  1. Ask for the retreatment code on the quote. A quote should say D3346, D3347 or D3348, not just "root canal", so offices can be compared. Uninsured patients can ask for a good faith estimate before scheduled care.[4]
  2. Check a dental school clinic. School clinics may offer care at reduced rates under licensed supervision.[5] See dental schools and sliding scale dentists.
  3. Ask whether the old crown can stay. Keeping it can remove the crown and buildup lines from the bill; only your dentist can say if it is possible.
  4. Avoid deferred-interest traps. If a promotional balance is not paid in full in time, interest can be charged back to the purchase date.[7] Compare options with the dental payment plan calculator.
  5. Use HSA or FSA money. Dental treatment is a medical expense under IRS Publication 502.[6] See FSA and HSA for dental work.

Prices, not treatment advice.Whether to retreat a tooth, refer it to an endodontist or remove it depends on the tooth, which only your dentist can assess. This page compares self-pay prices only.

Frequently asked questions

How much does root canal retreatment cost without insurance?

About $810–$1,800 for a front tooth, $930–$2,050 for a premolar and $1,150–$2,500 for a molar at national self-pay prices. With a buildup and a new crown, a molar comes to roughly $2,350–$5,100.

Is retreatment more expensive than the first root canal?

Yes. At typical national fees a molar retreatment is about $1,800, against $1,500 for a first molar root canal. See root canal cost.

Is it cheaper to pull the tooth than to redo the root canal?

On the day, yes: a simple extraction is about $240 typical. Replacing the tooth with an implant brings the total to about $5,990, more than a retreatment with a new crown ($3,650). The AAE says saving a natural tooth is generally less expensive than replacing it.[2]

Do I need a new crown after retreatment?

Not always. The tooth is restored with a crown or a filling after root canal treatment;[2] whether your existing crown can stay is for your dentist to decide. A new buildup and all-ceramic crown add about $1,860 typical.

Sources

  1. Reasonable Charges v5.26, Table I: Outpatient Dental Professional Nationwide Charges (80th percentile of charges; FAIR Health dental data and other sources) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, January 1, 2026
  2. What is a Root Canal? · American Association of Endodontists, 2026
  3. MEPS HC-254B: 2024 Dental Visits public-use file · Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, May 2026 (2024 data)
  4. Good faith estimate guide (No Surprises Act, uninsured and self-pay patients) · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, October 5, 2026
  5. Places to Look for Affordable Dental Care · American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), 2026
  6. Publication 502: Medical and Dental Expenses · Internal Revenue Service, February 2026 (for 2025 returns)
  7. Medical Credit Cards and Financing Plans · Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, May 2023