Scheduling
Our scheduling reflects our goal of uncompromising quality of care. Scheduling for maximum care rather than maximum production is our goal. The downside is fewer patients can be seen on a given day. We do however try to prioritize appointments based on a patient’s degree of discomfort. Some root canal problems involve little to no pain at all. For these situations we schedule the first routine appointment available. Other root canal problems can cause significant pain and we will make every effort to schedule those experiencing pain as soon as possible.
If you develop significant pain prior to your scheduled appointment, please let us know so that we may work you in sooner. If you are not in pain we ask your understanding in our efforts to make those in pain our first priority.
Please see About Your Visit for details of scheduling and types of appointments.
Cancellations
While we realize emergencies and illness beyond your control can arise, we request the courtesy of 48 hours notice for cancellations. Many patients are waiting for a sooner appointment and with adequate notice we can allow them to get in sooner. Similarly, being late for an appointment affects many other patients scheduled after you. We devote your appointment time to you and ask that you honor the time as well.
Financial Policy
We will provide you a written fee estimate and financial agreement prior to initiating any treatment.
If you have dental insurance: Insurance benefits will be verified and your estimated co-pay (cash, check, or credit card) is due at the initiation of treatment. An estimate of benefits by your insurance company is only that—an estimate. If insurance payment is less than the estimated benefit, we will bill you for the balance upon completion of treatment. Any payment over the estimated benefit will likewise be refunded upon receipt of insurance payment.
If you have no dental insurance: Payment for an Evaluation/Consultation visit is expected on day of service. For treatment, 50% of the fee is due at initiation of treatment and the balance on completion.
Financing: We are unable to finance treatment within the office but do offer financing through Care Credit which allows payment over 90 days w/o interest and extended payments with interest.
Fees
Unfortunately, treatment fees are a reality and the cost of your care is information you need for planning and to make informed health care decisions. For this reason we have listed the most commonly performed procedures in our office and the associated fees.
- Evaluation $85
- Emergency Treatment w/o root canal $275
- Emergency Treatment in addition to root canal $275
- Fractured Tooth w/o completion of root canal $350
Root Canal Treatment
- Root Canal Anterior $775
- Root Canal Bicuspid $850
- Root Canal Molar $975
Retreatment
- Anterior $875
- Bicuspid $975
- Molar $1075
Dental Insurance: the most common insurance plans cover approximately 80% of root canal related procedures.
Other Cost Considerations
When considering fees and the cost of treatment it is also important to take into account the cost of a crown if needed. Any back tooth--unless already crowned--will need a crown after the root canal treatment. Most front teeth do not need to be crowned but it is very important to have a back tooth crowned after root canal treatment to prevent fracture and loss of the tooth. The crown would be done with your regular dentist and crown fees range from $700-1200 depending on the type of crown.
Fee Comparisons
Our fees are determined by Delta Dental of California--one of the states largest insurance providers--based on their
We encourage our patients to be informed health care consumers and encourage second opinions when indicated or desired. But we also advise you to be cautious of significantly lower fees and to carefully consider the reason for the lower fee. The fees in our office are similar to those of any other quality specialty practice in Solano County.
Dentistry is expensive due to the high overhead costs associated with equipping, staffing, and operating a dental facility. These costs cannot be lowered beyond a certain level. The overhead (rent, loans, equipment, supplies, janitorial, laundry, utilities, maintenance and repair, insurance, staff, staff retirement & benefits, etc.) for the modern dental office typically ranges from $25 to $75 thousand per month. That is the cost to simply break even and keep the doors open.
The only way to change the overhead equation is to lower overhead costs(by not using current technology, skimping on equipment or supplies, being understaffed, or using less qualified staff) or to do more procedures in a shorter amount of time i.e. to provide a different level of care.
Alternatives to Root Canal Treatment
The alternative to root canal treatment is removal of the tooth. Removing the tooth without a replacement is by far the least costly option in the short term (but may not be in the long term due to the changes resulting from a missing tooth).
If the tooth is replaced with a "fixed tooth" (does not come out) replacement there are basically two options:
1) implant: $3,500-$4,500 (including the crown)
2) bridge: $2,200-$3,000
There is also a less expensive option of a removable partial denture that can range from $300-$2000 depending on the number of teeth and whether it is made of plastic (considered temporary) or with a metal (permanent) framework. Unless you are replacing multiple missing teeth, most patients do not find a removable partial denture an acceptable option for replacing a single tooth.