How much does Root Canal Treatment Cost? (UK Guide)
If you’ve been told you might need a root canal, your first thought is probably:
“This is going to be expensive…”
Fair enough. Most people assume the worst. But the cost actually varies for a reason—and once you understand it, it feels a lot less confusing.
So, what does it usually cost?
We have published our dental fee guide online which shows all our dental treatment fees including root canal cost.
In the UK for treatment carried out by general dentists, root canal treatment costs:
- Front incisor tooth: ~£600
- Premolar: ~£750
- Back molar tooth: ~£950
That jump for back teeth can seem a bit much at first—but there’s a good reason for it.
Why are molar root canal treatments more expensive?
Root canal treatment cost increases based on the amount of work that needs to be done and the time required for the work to be completed. Incisors have one canal that needs cleaning, shaping and filling. Premolar teeth often have two canals and molars have three or four canals that need to be treated.
What happens during root canal treatment?
The goal of root canal treatment is to thoroughly clean the infected/inflamed inner parts of the tooth and then fill the root canal system.
That involves:
- Numbing the tooth so you’re comfortable
- Removing the infected nerve
- Cleaning out the root canals properly
- Sealing them to stop bacteria getting back in
This work is very delicate and time consuming (approx 2-3 hours) and needs to be done patiently to throughly clean the root canal system of all bacteria present there.
What happens if a root canal isn’t carried out properly?
If root canal treatment is rushed and bacteria are left behind in the canal, or a canal is missed, problems can arise.
That might mean:
- Ongoing discomfort
- Infection returning
- Needing root canal retreatment with a root canal specialist
For these reasons, many patients opt to see a root canal specialist (Endodontist) for their root canal treatment. Our root canal specialist uses high tech equipment such as a dental microscope to ensure no part of the root canal system is missed.
The cost of root canal treatment with a specialist is likely to be around £1395-£1700 depending on case complexity and in the long run its worth the investment.
Will I need anything else afterwards?
Back teeth which are under a lot more bite loads, usually need a dental crown afterwards to protect them from tooth fracture. Crown typically cost between £700-£1000 depending on material type.
Why not just take the tooth out?
Taking a tooth out and leaving a gap whilst is cheaper, allows the neighbouring teeth to super-erupt and move which can create local bite changes. Jaw socket bone also shrinks away after a tooth is removed and not replaced which can make future implant replacement more complex and costly.
Alternatively, you could replace a tooth with a dental bridge (costs £1500-£3000) or a dental implant (costs £3000-£5000).
Can I leave it for now?
Leaving an inflamed or infected tooth without treatment is not a good idea. You may suffer more pain, have spreading infection and even end up eventually losing the tooth. Ideally the sooner treatment is initiated the better.
If you’ve got toothache…
Don’t ignore it. The sooner it’s looked at, the easier and cheaper it usually is to treat.
At Pearl Dental Clinic, we see this kind of thing every day—the focus is always on keeping things comfortable, explaining things clearly, and sorting the problem properly. We have a 365 days a year emergency dental service that provides root canal treatment everyday for patients in pain.
We do offer 0% dental finance so that you can spread the cost of your root canal treatment in an affordable way for up to 2 years interest free.
You can book an appointment with one of our experienced dentists or root canal specialist by calling 0208 059 4085 or by sending us a WhatsApp message, or by using our 24 hour online booking system.