# Is root canal treatment available on the NHS?

Source: https://thelocaldentist.co.uk/answers/is-root-canal-available-on-the-nhs/
Updated: 2026-07-15

## Quick answer

Yes. Root canal treatment is core NHS dentistry: when a tooth's nerve is infected or dying and the tooth is worth saving, the NHS funds the treatment under Band 2 — £76.60 in England, covering every visit in the course. If the tooth needs a crown afterwards, the course moves to Band 3 (£332.10) and that single charge covers both. The practical catch is capacity and complexity: back molars are fiddly, some NHS dentists refer them to a specialist, and NHS specialist slots are limited — which is where private endodontists, typically £250–700 and more for molars, come in.

## Key facts

- Root canal is NHS Band 2: £76.60 in England, however many appointments it takes
- Add a crown and the whole course becomes Band 3: £332.10 covers both
- The alternative NHS option is extraction — also Band 2, but the tooth is gone
- Complex molar cases may be referred; NHS endodontic slots are limited in many areas
- Private root canal typically costs £250–700, with specialist molar work at the top end
- Severe pain or swelling? Call NHS 111 — urgent care is commissioned separately

Editorial content from The Local Dentist — not clinical advice.