A root canal treatment typically costs from approximately £70 in the National Health Service, all the way up to £1,500 in central London with an endodontist, who is a specialist root canal dentist, or an experienced cosmetic dentist.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure in which the inner part of the tooth is removed, sterilised and made safe for future restoration. This inner part is called the root canal system. It is the deepest part of the tooth, where the nerve and blood supply live.
Sometimes this area becomes infected through tooth decay, gum disease or trauma. Because the tissue here is so delicate, it becomes infected very easily if it is exposed to the environment inside the mouth. Root canal treatment exists to save the tooth by removing that inner nerve and pulp tissue.
The procedure is exacting because the access to this area is a space of relatively small volume, perhaps 2 to 3 millimetres in all dimensions. Very fine instruments are needed. The purpose of this article is to describe the variation in the cost of root canal treatment.
How Much Does Root Canal Treatment Cost?
A root canal treatment typically costs from approximately £70 in the National Health Service, all the way up to £1,500 in central London with an endodontist, who is a specialist root canal dentist, or an experienced cosmetic dentist.
The variation in cost is partly due to the skill level involved in performing the procedure and the success rate you can expect. In the UK, root canal treatment is typically very successful, with more than 85% of cases treated successfully. Of the remaining 15%, the tooth can be root treated again or, if that is the outcome, extracted and replaced with an implant.
The higher-cost options, at the £1,500 level, typically have a higher success rate because the materials and medicaments used are of better quality and achieve the result with less risk.
Root canal treatments can still fail, and they tend to do so within 10 to 15 years.
The Cost of the Crown
Root canal treatment is not the end of the road. Afterwards, the tooth typically needs a supportive cap or crown placed over it to keep it stable and to stop it from splitting or breaking. This is because root canal treatment makes the tooth much more brittle, as it is essentially hollowed out.
For this reason, the total cost of a root canal treatment is not just the root canal itself but also the crown that has to be placed afterwards. The cost of a crown can vary from about £250 for an NHS Band 3 treatment, to a typical private fee in London of approximately £700 to £900, and up to £2,000 at a high-end cosmetic or specialist clinic.
At the highest level, then, a root canal treatment would cost in the region of £1,500 for the root canal itself, plus £1,000 to £2,000 for the crown over the top.
Is Saving the Tooth Worth the Cost?
This is a very large cost for saving a tooth, approximately £2,500. The decision comes down to whether there is a cost benefit to saving the tooth.
If you lose the tooth, for example a front tooth, it would need to be replaced with a bridge, an implant or a denture. An implant gives the most long-lasting and aesthetically natural result, but it would cost upwards of £3,500 to £5,000 due to the complexity involved. That is much more than keeping the natural tooth, root canal treated and protected with a crown.
Furthermore, a natural tooth is always better than a prosthetic tooth, so from a biological perspective saving teeth is always better for you. It is also financially better, because the cost of saving a tooth is lower, even though the cost of root canal treatment is relatively high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to have a crown after root canal treatment?
Not everyone does. There is some debate within the profession as to whether a root canal treated tooth towards the front of the mouth requires a crown. The typical result is a very fragile tooth that can break with time. That said, it depends on how you use your teeth, how strong your jaw muscles are and the type of food you eat.
For a back tooth, the evidence is very strong that a crown is required. For a front tooth, meaning from the premolars forward, it is a little more nuanced. Often the crown is placed not only for structural benefit but also for aesthetics, because the tooth tends to get quite dark after root canal treatment.
So on posterior teeth a crown is mandatory. On anterior teeth it is optional, depending on the aesthetic situation.
Is root canal treatment painful?
No. Root canal treatment is not painful because you are under local anaesthetic. Typically you feel nothing other than vibration and water, and there is usually not much pain at all afterwards.
Can the cost of root canal treatment be financed?
Yes, of course. At Marylebone Smile Clinic, we offer interest-free finance for 12 to 24 months, and finance over up to 60 months under a finance arrangement.
Why is root canal treatment so expensive?
Firstly, the specialised instruments required to disinfect a root canal are extremely costly. Secondly, what you are paying for is the time and skill of the dentist’s hands, which is irreplaceable. Currently, AI robotics cannot do this type of task, as it is far too dynamic and changing.
To save your tooth, it is a priceless procedure, because a tooth is so important in our mouth.
Dentist at Marylebone Smile Clinic and an Accredited member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
GDC number: 258353. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026