Number of Visits and Cost for Root Canal Treatment: Why It Is Split, What Happens at Each Visit, and Insurance Coverage

Why doesn’t root canal treatment finish in one visit?

Because time is needed to disinfect the infected canals and confirm that the inflammation is settling [1]. After the inside of the canal is widened with instruments and cleaned, disinfecting medication is placed and the tooth is temporarily sealed; the medication works until the next visit, and the progress of inflammation is judged from changes in symptoms in between [1][3]. When DentStat analyzed 1,300 patient comments about the root canal procedure, number of visits, and cost, the question “why do they ask me to come several times” was observed alongside the suspicion “isn’t calling me back several times about profit” [4], showing demand for an explanation of why multiple visits are needed.

What happens at each visit?

The general stages are as follows, and visits may be combined or added depending on the degree of inflammation and the number of canals [1][3].

Stage	What is done
Diagnosis	Confirm the tooth to be treated with X-rays and pulp tests [1]
Pulp removal and canal shaping	Remove infected pulp, measure canal length, then widen and clean with instruments [1]
Canal disinfection	Place medication and a temporary filling: repeated depending on inflammation [1]
Canal filling	Once symptoms are stable, seal the canals with filling material [1]
Restoration	Reinforce the tooth with a post (core), crown, etc. [3]

Can it ever finish in one visit?

Yes. A tooth with a simple structure and mild inflammation, such as a front tooth with only one canal, sometimes finishes through to the canal filling in one visit [3]. On the other hand, molars with several canals, teeth with sharply curved or narrowed canals, and teeth with inflammation advanced to the point of pus need more visits [1][3]. The difference in the number of visits comes from differences in tooth structure and inflammation, and deviating from some set standard number does not mean the treatment is wrong [3].

How should I care for the tooth while it has a temporary filling?

The temporary filling seals the canal from the outside until the next visit, so it is usual to avoid chewing hard or sticky foods on that side [1]. It is actually safer to brush gently, including that area, and not brushing for a long time to avoid contamination can cause gum inflammation [1]. If the temporary filling comes out, the canal can be contaminated again, so you should return promptly [1]. The comment analysis also repeatedly showed questions about a temporary filling falling out and how to brush [4].

Root canal treatment is covered by insurance, so why is the estimate so high?

Root canal treatment itself is a covered service under National Health Insurance, and what increases the estimate is mostly the non-covered items (not paid by Korea’s National Health Insurance) added after treatment [2]. An estimate is usually divided into layers: covered root canal treatment, a non-covered post (core), and a non-covered crown, and if you look only at the total without this breakdown, the whole is perceived as “the cost of a root canal” [2][3]. The comment analysis also showed many questions that confused covered root canal treatment and non-covered restoration costs as one [4]. Checking items separately is the starting point for comparison, and the cost structure by crown material is covered in the crown guide.

What happens if treatment is stopped partway?

If the tooth is left with a temporary filling, bacteria can get back in through tiny gaps and cause reinfection, or the weakened tooth can break and lead to extraction [1][3]. Cases of stopping because multiple visits felt burdensome were observed in the comments [4], but if the scheduled visits are not completed, the treatment done so far can be wasted [3].

For the course of pain and options if root canal treatment fails, see the root canal treatment guide, and for dental clinics by region, see Find a Dentist.