Root canal treatment in the UK can cost a few hundred pounds or well over a thousand, and the fee varies with the tooth, the complexity of treatment and the practice.

A front tooth usually has fewer canals to treat. A molar, with several narrow canals, often takes longer, and the fee reflects that.

This guide sets out what a root canal costs, how the price changes from tooth to tooth, and what a quote should include.

How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

In the UK, private root canal treatment costs from around £450 to £1,400, depending mostly on the tooth.

The biggest factor is which tooth needs treatment. A front tooth usually has one canal to clean and seal. A back molar has three or four, often narrow and curved. That is why a molar costs more than an incisor at the same practice.

The dentist’s experience and the time the tooth takes matter too. A complex tooth needs longer in the chair and more skill to treat well, and that is what a higher fee pays for.

How Much Is a Root Canal for Each Tooth Type?

Because the number of canals drives the time and difficulty, practices usually price by tooth type. The table compares typical UK private ranges with our own published prices for each type of tooth.

Why Molars Cost More Than Front Teeth

Molars usually have more complex root anatomy than front teeth. Cleaning three or four canals takes longer than cleaning one, and the dentist often splits the work across two visits. The higher price reflects the extra time and complexity.

Cost of Root Canal Treatment: What’s Included?

A quote for root canal treatment should cover the whole course, not just the first appointment. A low figure that leaves out the X-rays or a second visit is not a like-for-like price. Check that it includes:

• Local anaesthetic and all chairside materials
• Rubber dam isolation, which keeps the tooth dry and is essential to success
• Cleaning and shaping every canal in the tooth
• Filling and sealing those canals with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha
• A temporary filling to close the tooth between visits
• Follow-up X-rays to confirm the seal

A quote may not include the permanent filling or crown that follows. Treated teeth, molars especially, usually need a crown afterwards to stop them fracturing. Our treatment fees page provides prices for all types.

Helpful Tip: Ask for the crown to be priced separately from the root canal, so you can compare two practices on the same basis.

Root Canal Treatment Costs in the UK: Why Delay Can Cost More

Delaying treatment can add to the eventual cost, because an infection inside a tooth can keep spreading until it is treated. Once the bone around the root tip starts to break down, the tooth becomes harder to save, and if it is left untreated, you may need to have the tooth taken out. Replacing a lost tooth costs far more than saving it.

The tooth also changes once it is treated. The Oral Health Foundation notes that after root canal treatment the tooth no longer has a living nerve and can become more brittle, which is why a crown so often follows on a molar. Budget for both from the start.

Root Canal or Extraction: Which Is Better Value?

Extracting a tooth usually has a lower upfront fee, but replacing it afterwards can cost more than saving it. A gap can allow neighbouring teeth to drift, and the jawbone beneath it tends to shrink. Replacing the tooth with an implant typically costs several times the original root canal fee.

In the long run, saving the tooth is usually the better choice, both for cost and for chewing. Extraction may be necessary if a deep crack or extensive damage means the tooth cannot be restored. You can compare the cost of both on our private treatment price list.

Root Canal Treatment Cost at TKC Dental in London

We publish our endodontic fees rather than quoting on the day. A root canal consultation is £80, deducted from the treatment cost if you go ahead. Extirpation, which removes the inflamed nerve to relieve pain and stabilise the tooth, is £150, and this is deducted from the cost if you then go on to specialist treatment. An endodontic investigation, to find the source of a problem, is £150 to £200.

Root canal treatment is £600 for an incisor, canine or premolar, and £750 for a molar, with retreatment adding £100. We work under a microscope, which helps us find and clean narrow, curved canals. Where the tooth needs a crown, we can fit a same-day CEREC crown. Complex cases are referred to a specialist endodontist, whose fee is quoted individually.

TKC Dental’s clinics in Knightsbridge and Kensington are conveniently located just 2 miles from the world-renowned Harley Street.

Root Canal Costs: What to Remember

Root canal costs can look confusing because they vary so widely. Two things make almost any quote easier to understand: the number of canals sets most of the price, and the crown that follows is priced separately.

The key things to remember about root canal cost:

• The headline range: £450 to £1,400 privately across the UK
• The real driver: which tooth, because the number of canals decides the time
• Our prices: £600 for an incisor, canine or premolar, £750 for a molar, and £100 more for retreatment
• Usually extra: the crown afterwards
• The waiting cost: delay can mean a tooth that could have been saved needs extracting

What a quote covers matters as much as the figure itself. A clear breakdown of what is included is the best way to compare one quote with another.

Book a Root Canal Consultation at TKC Dental in London

If you are worried about a painful tooth, or unsure about a quote you have already received, a root canal consultation is £80, deducted from your treatment cost if you go ahead. Book a root canal consultation at either clinic.

Information Sources

Root canal treatment (nhs.uk)
Root canals (American Dental Association)
Root canal treatment (Oral Health Foundation)