I had a root canal done earlier this year.
It cost in total:
Dental check up: 55
Initial bit of root canal by dentist: 150
Referral to specialist as roots too curvy for ordinary dentist so needed endodontist, took 3 visits in total: 850
Filling in tooth collapsed after root canal, needed repair: 150
I still havent gotten it crowned yet, cant afford to!
I checked a few endodontists and the price was the same, in and around 850.
It was a second molar, 3 roots and very curved roots. Ordinary dentist can do teeth with less roots but molar or 2nd molars can require specialist equipment (or so I was told).
I had exactly the same issue around 10 years ago. Went to the dentist , needed root canal treatment, dentist started - paid 100 or 150 euro (don't remember) then was told, roots are too curvy- go see an endodontist. That will set you back 750 euro + 500 euro for the crown that was absolutely needed.
I didn't really have the money for this ( as I needed 3 of these). Decided to go to Holland. Dentist was really surprised about the referral to the endodontist ( " Yes, the roots are a bit curvy- but so what ?- do they not teach that in Ireland ?")
He finished the root canal and did the other 2 as well. No crowns- he said let's just see how we get on with big fillings- we can always crown later.
I don't remember how much it was exactly, but it was a lot cheaper than 4000 euro it would have cost me here. Incl flights and accommodation I think it cost me around 1200 ( 2 trips that was + general sedation). 9/10 years later, I have had no problems with these teeth , apart from the filling breaking ( which is still quite easily repaired- and no guarantee a crown wouldn't break)
I am back every 6 months and he is still not talking about crowns... In the mean time I have had some more root canals done .
Maybe people should challenge their dentist a little here, about "having to" get a crown after a root canal treatment.... Let alone about all the referrals to endodontists... ( However that may well be due to a different education system in Ireland so I can't really comment on that, other than that I have never heard anyone outside Ireland having gone to an endodontist)