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Compare root canal treatment prices — private costs by tooth type, the NHS Band 2 alternative, specialist endodontists, and what the procedure involves.
Root canal treatment (endodontics) saves a tooth whose nerve has died or become infected — the alternative is usually extraction. The dentist removes the infected pulp, cleans and shapes the canals inside the roots, and seals them, usually over one or two visits under local anaesthetic. Privately it typically costs £250–£700 depending on the tooth: front teeth with a single canal at the lower end, molars with three or four canals at the top, and specialist endodontists (often treating with a microscope, particularly for retreatments or complex anatomy) charging more — sometimes £800–£1,200 for a molar. On the NHS it's Band 2 (£75.30 in England), which makes NHS root canal one of the biggest savings in dentistry where you can access it. Budget for what comes after too: back teeth usually need a crown following root canal treatment to prevent fracture, which is a separate cost (Band 3 on the NHS, £450–£1,000 privately). Modern root canal treatment shouldn't hurt — it relieves pain rather than causing it.
Typical cost
£250 – £700
Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our publishedmethodology — they are not dental advice and practices cannot pay to change a score. Where a practice has no reviews we show "Not yet rated" — we never invent scores.Listings labelled Featured orReferral partner are paid placements; payment affects visibility only, never ratings or match results. We may receive a fee when you send a private-treatment enquiry.Private treatment prices are indicative — always confirm directly with the practice.
Dental Practice · London · SE1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dentistry near Borough Market and London Bridge.
Check-Up from £75
Dental Practice · Sheffield · S11 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Friendly NHS and private practice on Sheffield's Ecclesall Road.
Check-Up from £46
Dental Practice · Reading · RG1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dental care by Forbury Gardens, Reading.
Check-Up from £62
Dental Practice · Manchester · M2 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dentistry in the heart of Manchester city centre.
Check-Up from £52
Dental Practice · Nottingham · NG1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private practice in Nottingham's historic Lace Market.
Check-Up from £46
Dental Practice · Glasgow · G1 · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dentistry in Glasgow's Merchant City.
Check-Up from £45
Dental Practice · Swansea · SA2 · GDC-registered team · HIW-registered practice
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Neighbourhood NHS and private dentistry in Uplands, Swansea.
Check-Up from £45
Privately, typically £250–£700 — front teeth (one canal) at the lower end, molars (three or four canals) at the top, and specialist endodontists charging more for complex cases and retreatments. On the NHS it's Band 2: £75.30 in England, regardless of which tooth. Remember a back tooth usually needs a crown afterwards, which is costed separately.
Yes — it's core Band 2 treatment (£75.30 in England) at any practice doing NHS work, and access to an NHS dentist is usually the only barrier. If your NHS dentist refers a complex case to a specialist, check whether the referral is NHS or private before going ahead, as specialist fees are significantly higher.
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and for most patients feels similar to having a large filling — long, but not painful. It treats the source of toothache, so most people feel dramatically better afterwards. Some tenderness for a few days is normal; severe or worsening pain after treatment isn't, so contact your dentist if that happens.
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better long-term outcome where the tooth is restorable — extraction is cheaper up front (£100–£350 privately, Band 2 on the NHS) but leaves a gap that may later need a bridge, denture or implant costing far more. It's a case-by-case clinical decision: ask the dentist for the prognosis of the treated tooth before choosing.
Around 85–95% of first-time treatments succeed and the tooth can last a lifetime with a good restoration on top. If an infection returns, options include retreatment or a small surgical procedure (apicectomy), often via a specialist. Crowning a root-treated back tooth promptly is one of the biggest factors in long-term success.
Root-treated back teeth become brittle and are heavily hollowed by the treatment, so they're prone to cracking under chewing forces. A crown (or onlay) protects against fracture — studies show root-treated molars with crowns survive far longer than those without. Front teeth often manage with just a filling.