Root canals and insurance
Why a root canal is basic on most plans and major on some, what usually comes with it on the claim, and what to check first.
Delta Dental lists root canals with fillings and extractions as basic procedures, often paid at 80%. Some plans put them under major instead, at 50%, so check the patient's coverage table before you quote.
What else is usually on the plan
- The crown after. A back tooth with a root canal often needs a crown, which is major and has its own rules. Quote both together so the patient sees the whole cost and the effect on the yearly maximum.
- A waiting period. A new plan may not pay basic or major work until it ends.
- Retreatment. Some plans limit paying for the same tooth again within a set time.
Before the visit
- Check which group the plan puts root canals in, and its percentage.
- Check any waiting period against the plan's start date.
- Quote the root canal and the crown together, in order, so the maximum is used up the way the insurer will use it.
This is how plans usually work, not how every plan works. The patient's own plan documents and the insurer decide what's paid.
Codes you'll see
CDT is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association. Tabruns is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ADA. The descriptions here are our own plain-English summaries, not the ADA's official wording; use your current CDT manual or practice software for the official code set.
Terms on this page
Sources
Read November 11, 2026. Where a source describes one insurer's plans, we say so.
Get the patient's share in dollars, from the benefits page
Knowing how plans pay for root canals is half the job. Tabruns reads the coverage, deductible, yearly maximum, waiting periods and frequency limits from the insurer's portal and works out what the patient owes. Patient details stay on the office computer.
Not ready? Try the free patient portion calculator.