How Much Does a Root Canal Cost? UK & Manchester Prices (2026)
Reviewed by Dr Nilesh Bhatt, Principal Dentist · Last updated 9 June 2026 · Prices reviewed annually
From £950 at Gartside Street Dental Lounge, Manchester
Across the UK, private root canal treatment typically costs £300–£1,500 — front teeth at the lower end, molars (more canals) at the upper end.
On the NHS in England, root canal treatment falls under Band 2 — £76.60 (April 2026 rate). Shown for comparison: Gartside Street is a fully private practice and does not provide NHS treatment.
Private root canal treatment costs from £950 at our Manchester clinic, including re-treatment of a previously root-filled tooth. A specialist root canal consultation, where we assess the tooth and confirm your exact price, is £125.
Root canal pricing confuses people because the quoted fee is often only half the story — most back teeth need a crown afterwards to protect the result. This guide covers the full picture: the treatment itself, why molars cost more than front teeth, the crown, and how the NHS compares.
Our prices at a glance
| Treatment | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Root canal treatment | from £950 | Includes all visits for the root canal itself |
| Re-root canal treatment | from £950 | Re-treating a tooth root-filled in the past |
| Specialist root canal consultation | £125 | Assessment, X-rays and a fixed written quote |
| Ceramic crown (usually needed after) | from £995 | Protects a root-treated back tooth long-term |
| Emergency appointment | £95 | Same-day pain relief and diagnosis |
Members of our practice plan save 10% on every fee above. See the full Manchester price list for every treatment we offer.
What affects the cost?
The main driver is the tooth itself. A front tooth (incisor) has one root canal; a molar can have three or four, each of which must be located, cleaned, shaped and sealed — often under a microscope. More canals means more time and more skill, which is why molar root canals sit at the top of every practice’s price range.
The second driver is whether this is a first treatment or a re-treatment. Removing an old root filling and resolving persistent infection is more complex than treating a fresh one. Finally, budget for the crown: a root-treated back tooth becomes brittle, and without a crown (from £995) it is at real risk of fracturing — which would mean losing the tooth and starting again with an implant or bridge.
NHS vs private: an honest comparison
First, full transparency: Gartside Street Dental Lounge is a fully private practice — we do not provide NHS treatment. We include NHS charges here because comparing both routes honestly is the only way to make a good decision.
NHS root canal treatment is Band 2 (£76.60 from April 2026) — remarkable value if you can access it. The constraint is real, though: NHS time pressures mean molar root canals are frequently referred or offered extraction as the alternative, and waiting lists for urgent endodontic care are long in Greater Manchester.
Privately, you are paying for time under magnification, modern rotary and irrigation techniques that raise success rates, and the option of same-day emergency care when the pain starts. Saving the natural tooth is almost always cheaper over a lifetime than extracting it and replacing it with an implant.
Spreading the cost
0% finance is available through Tabeo, subject to status — borrow £350 to £25,000 and see your monthly payment in seconds with the calculator on our pricing page. Our monthly membership plan includes routine care and a 10% discount on all treatments.
Want an exact price for your case?
Every quote is confirmed in writing before treatment begins — no surprises. Read more about root canal treatment in Manchester or book in below.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a root canal cost privately in the UK?
Typical UK private fees range from £300–£700 for a front tooth to £900–£1,500 for a molar. At Gartside Street Dental Lounge in Manchester, root canal treatment starts from £950, with a £125 specialist consultation that confirms your exact price in writing first.
How much is a root canal on the NHS?
In England, NHS root canal treatment falls under Band 2 — £76.60 from April 2026. If a crown is needed afterwards, that moves the course of treatment to Band 3 (£332.10). Access is the practical hurdle: NHS molar root canals are often referred or take months to schedule.
Is Gartside Street Dental Lounge an NHS dentist?
No — we are a fully private dental practice and do not provide NHS treatment. We include NHS charges in this guide for honest comparison, because knowing both routes helps you make the right decision. If you would like NHS treatment, NHS.uk lists practices accepting NHS patients in Greater Manchester.
Why do molar root canals cost more than front teeth?
Front teeth have a single canal; molars typically have three or four. Every additional canal must be found, cleaned, shaped and sealed, often under a microscope, so molar treatment takes substantially longer — which is reflected in the price.
Do I need a crown after root canal treatment, and what does it cost?
Back teeth usually do, yes. A root-treated tooth becomes more brittle, and a crown (from £995 at our clinic) protects it from fracturing. Front teeth can sometimes be restored with a filling alone — we advise honestly based on how much tooth remains.
Is it cheaper to extract the tooth instead?
The extraction itself is cheaper (from £189), but the gap then needs filling: a bridge from £950 or an implant costing considerably more than the root canal would have. Over a lifetime, saving the natural tooth is almost always the more economical choice — and it is what we recommend whenever the tooth is saveable.
What does the root canal price include?
Our fee covers all visits for the root canal itself — anaesthetic, the cleaning and shaping appointments, the root filling and the X-rays taken during treatment. The crown, if needed, is quoted separately and always agreed in writing before we begin.
Can I spread the cost of root canal treatment?
Yes. 0% finance through Tabeo is available, subject to status — useful when a root canal and crown are planned together. Practice plan members save 10% on all treatment fees.
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Prices correct as of 9 June 2026 and reviewed annually. NHS charges shown are the England rates effective 1 April 2026. Gartside Street Dental Lounge · 74 Gartside Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3EL.