Root Canal Treatment
Root Canal Treatment — Cost Breakdown
Quick answer
Root canal treatment in the UK costs £76.60 on the NHS (Band 2 in England, covering any tooth) or £250–£1,500 privately depending on which tooth is treated and whether a specialist endodontist performs it. Front teeth are the cheapest (one canal); molars with 3–4 canals cost the most. Add the cost of a crown afterwards (£332.10 NHS or £400–£1,200 private) — back teeth almost always need one.
Key facts
- NHS England price: £76.60 (Band 2, covers any tooth)
- Private front tooth (1 canal): £250–£500
- Private molar (3–4 canals): £500–£1,000
- Specialist endodontist: £700–£1,500
- Success rate: 80–85% generalist, 90–95% specialist endodontist
- Crown required after treatment: usually yes (extra Band 3 or £400–£1,200)
- Duration: 60–120 minutes per session, often 1–2 sessions
A root canal (endodontic treatment) cleans, shapes and seals the canals inside a tooth to remove infection. Front teeth have one canal and are quicker to treat; molars have three or four and take much longer. NHS root canals are covered by the Band 2 charge regardless of which tooth is treated.
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is the most-feared dental procedure but one of the most successful. Search volume spikes after toothache, after a dentist says the nerve is dead, and after price quotes from specialist endodontists. The good news: UK NHS root canals cost the same as a filling (£76.60 Band 2). The bad news: getting one done well privately on a back molar can cost over £1,000 and a crown afterwards adds another £400–£1,200.
Who needs this treatment?
- Patients with severe toothache that wakes them at night or lingers after hot/cold
- A tooth that has darkened after trauma (dead nerve)
- X-ray showing an abscess at the tooth root tip
- Anyone with a deep cavity reaching the pulp
- Patients with a cracked tooth syndrome causing sharp pain on biting
What does the procedure involve?
A root canal usually takes 60–90 minutes for a front tooth and 90–120 minutes for a molar, often spread over 1–2 visits. The dentist numbs the tooth, places a rubber dam, drills an access cavity through the crown, uses fine files (often rotary nickel-titanium) to clean and shape each canal, irrigates with sodium hypochlorite to dissolve any remaining nerve tissue and bacteria, dries the canals, and fills them with gutta-percha and sealer cement. A temporary filling is placed; the permanent crown is fitted 1–4 weeks later.
Recovery time
Mild ache for 2–4 days is normal as the surrounding bone settles. Take ibuprofen and paracetamol together as needed. Avoid chewing on the temporary filling. Severe pain or swelling 48 hours after treatment is unusual — call the practice if it occurs.
How long does it last?
A well-done root canal with a proper crown has an 85–95% 10-year survival rate. Specialist (endodontist) treatment under a microscope reaches 95%+. The tooth functions like any other for decades.
NHS Coverage
Falls under Band 2. NHS root canal includes the procedure but a follow-up crown is a separate Band 3 charge (£332.10).
| Nation | NHS patient charge |
|---|---|
| England | £76.60 |
| Wales | £62.00 (legacy) |
| Scotland | 80% of item-of-service fee |
| Northern Ireland | item-of-service charge |
NHS charges effective from 1 April 2026.
Private Cost Range
Treatment by a specialist endodontist using a microscope has higher success rates (around 90%+) but costs significantly more.
| Option | UK average | Central London |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth (single canal) | £250–£500 | £400–£800 |
| Premolar (1–2 canals) | £400–£700 | £600–£1,100 |
| Molar (3–4 canals) | £500–£1,000 | £800–£1,800 |
| Specialist endodontist (any tooth) | £700–£1,500 | £1,000–£2,200 |
Private fees compiled from UK clinic price lists and 2026 market surveys.
What Affects the Cost
- Number of canals in the tooth
- Whether you see a generalist or specialist endodontist
- Use of an operating microscope and rubber dam
- Whether re-treatment of a previously root-treated tooth is needed
When is this treatment available on the NHS?
Covered by the NHS Band 2 charge (£76.60 in England and Wales) for any tooth. The follow-up crown is a separate Band 3 charge (£332.10). Re-treatment (redoing a previously root-treated tooth) is also covered.
How to save money on this treatment
- Use the NHS — a Band 2 root canal at £76.60 is dramatically cheaper than any private specialist
- Combine the root canal and the crown into separate but bundled NHS courses to spread the cost
- Get a second opinion before agreeing to extract — saving the tooth is usually cheaper long-term
- For private cases, ask whether your generalist can do the root canal or refer to a specialist endodontist
- Apply for an HC2 certificate if your income is borderline — root canal plus crown comes to £408.70 NHS
Does dental insurance cover this?
Bupa, WPA and Simplyhealth typically pay 50–70% of private root canal fees up to annual limits. Capitation plans like Denplan include root canal under restorative cover but often at a fixed reimbursement rate.
Risks and side effects
- Tooth fracture if not crowned promptly after treatment
- Persistent infection requiring re-treatment (5–15% of cases)
- File breakage inside the canal (rare with experienced operators)
- Possible long-term darkening of the tooth from inside out
- Need for surgical apicectomy if root canal cannot reach the infection
Red flags to watch for
- Extraction recommended for a savable tooth without offering root canal as an option
- “Cheap” root canals under £300 privately — likely rushed and may need re-treatment
- Failure to fit a crown afterwards — significantly raises the chance of tooth fracture
Alternatives to consider
- Tooth Extraction — Cheaper upfront but you then need an implant (£2,000–£3,500), bridge (£800–£2,000), or denture (£400+).
- Dental Implant (Single Tooth) — Permanent tooth replacement after extraction — gold standard but expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need a crown after a root canal?
Yes — back teeth almost always need a crown after root canal to prevent fracture. Front teeth may only need a composite restoration.
Is it cheaper to just extract the tooth?
Initially yes — extraction is cheaper. But replacing the missing tooth with a bridge or implant typically costs more than saving it with a root canal.
How long does a root canal take?
A front tooth root canal takes 60–90 minutes. A molar can take 90–120 minutes and may be split over two visits.
Is root canal treatment painful?
The treatment itself is done under local anaesthetic and shouldn’t hurt during the procedure. Mild post-operative ache for 2–4 days is normal.
What is the success rate?
Generalist NHS root canals have around 80–85% 10-year survival. Specialist endodontists reach 90–95% using microscopes and rubber dams.
Can a root canal fail years later?
Yes, about 5–10% of root-treated teeth develop late re-infection. Re-treatment is possible and is covered by the NHS Band 2 charge.
Why does the specialist charge so much more?
Endodontists have an additional 3 years of training, work under operating microscopes, and use single-use rotary file systems. The success rate justifies the cost for difficult cases.