Root canals have always sounded like the stuff of nightmares to me—painful, expensive, and just… ugh. But I finally had to get one last month (bottom molar, if you’re curious), and honestly, I was dreading the bill even more than the drill. I don’t have fancy dental insurance, so I started shopping around after my regular dentist quoted me $1,600. Ouch.
Here’s where it gets good: I ended up calling a couple local dental schools, and they actually offer root canals for a fraction of the price. I paid just under $400. The student did the work under supervision, and it took a bit longer than usual (like, bring-a-podcast long), but I survived and my tooth is still here. Recovery was pretty chill too—just a bit sore for a few days.
I was super nervous about letting someone “practice” on me, but honestly? The instructor checked everything and it felt way more thorough than some quick in-and-out jobs I’ve had before. Plus, I didn’t have to sell my car to pay for it, which is nice.
Anyone else found creative ways to save on big dental stuff? Or maybe you tried something that totally backfired? Curious if anyone’s gone the “dental tourism” route too—like, is flying to Mexico for a root canal actually worth it or just asking for trouble?
Dental school route is honestly underrated. I did the same thing for a crown a couple years back and yeah, it took forever, but my wallet thanked me. I’ve thought about the Mexico thing too—my cousin swears by it, but I’m just not sure I trust my luck with border crossings and dental chairs in the same trip. Anyone else ever get quoted one price and then hit with surprise fees? That’s what really gets me...
That price jump at the end is the worst—happened to me with braces. They gave me a number up front, but then there were “adjustment fees” and charges for extra scans. I get wanting to keep costs low, but the surprise bills are what stress me out more than the dental work itself. Dental schools can feel slow, yeah, but at least they’re upfront about costs and you know what you’re signing up for. At the end of the day, not rushing through treatment was worth it for my peace of mind.
I totally get why you’d want the peace of mind of knowing costs up front, but I actually had a different experience with a dental school. The transparency was great, but my treatment ended up stretching out over months because of their schedule, and I had to take time off work for a bunch of extra appointments.
“Dental schools can feel slow, yeah, but at least they’re upfront about costs and you know what you’re signing up for.”
For me, the trade-off wasn’t worth it. I ended up spending more in missed wages and transit than on the actual dental work. Sometimes the “hidden” costs aren’t just on the bill, you know?
That’s a really good point about the hidden costs. I almost went the dental school route myself, but I started stressing about how many appointments it might take. I’m kind of a nervous patient, and just the idea of dragging out the process over weeks or months made me hesitate. I know myself—I’d be obsessing over every twinge in my tooth between appointments, worrying if something went wrong or if I’d have to start over with a new student.
The money side is huge, but honestly, the time commitment and unpredictability would have gotten to me too. I work hourly, so every extra visit means less in my paycheck. And public transit here isn’t exactly reliable, so factoring in travel time and the mental energy of scheduling everything... it’s a lot.
I ended up biting the bullet (not literally, thank goodness) and went with a general dentist who offered a payment plan. It was more than the dental school, but I only needed two appointments and it was done. The anxiety of waiting weeks between steps would have been rough for me, even if I saved a few hundred bucks.
I totally get why people go for the cheaper option, though—dental bills are no joke. But for me, the “peace of mind” part was less about money and more about just getting it over with quickly. I wish there was a middle ground where you could get affordable care without all the back-and-forth. Maybe I’m just impatient, but dental stuff always makes me spiral a bit.
Curious if anyone’s tried those discount dental plans (not insurance, but like, membership things)? I keep seeing ads but don’t know if they’re legit or just another way to take your money.
