Root canal treatment at Pear Tree Dental in Nottingham starts at £300 for a single-canal tooth, £350 for a tooth with two canals, and £450 for a molar. Most root-canal-treated teeth then need a crown to protect them, from £750. You will be given the full cost before treatment starts, not after.
And the part everyone actually wants to know: it should not hurt. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and most patients say it felt much like having a filling. The pain people associate with root canal is the infection that makes it necessary — not the treatment that fixes it.
What root canal treatment costs in Nottingham
Beware price guides written for London. The figures you will find at the top of most searches are London private fees and they do not reflect what you will pay here. These are our actual prices:
Root canal, single canal (typically a front tooth): from £300.
Root canal, two canals: from £350.
Root canal, molar (back teeth, more complex canal systems): from £450.
Crown afterwards, usually recommended to stop the tooth fracturing: from £750.
Prices start from these figures because complexity varies — a molar with awkwardly curved canals takes longer than a straightforward one. You will get a specific figure after an X-ray and examination, before any work begins. Members receive 10% off selected treatments; ask us which apply to your plan.
What it costs on the NHS
NHS charges in England changed on 1 April 2026. Root canal treatment falls under Band 2 (£76.60), which covers the root canal alongside anything else needed in that course of care. If a crown is then required, the Band 3 charge (£332.10) applies. You pay one charge per course of treatment, however many appointments it takes.
The difficulty is access rather than price. NHS lists across Nottinghamshire have been effectively closed to new patients, not every NHS practice offers root canal on every tooth, and waiting times apply. Many people end up paying privately simply because they cannot get an NHS appointment while a tooth is hurting.
Why root canal treatment is needed
Inside each tooth, beneath the enamel and dentine, is a soft tissue called the pulp, containing nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp becomes infected or inflamed — usually through deep decay, a cracked tooth or trauma — it cannot heal itself. Left alone, the infection spreads into the bone around the tooth and forms an abscess. Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp, cleans and shapes the canals inside the root, and seals them against reinfection. The alternative, in most cases, is losing the tooth.
Signs you might need root canal treatment
Persistent, severe toothache — especially pain that throbs or wakes you at night.
Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers after the stimulus is removed.
A darkened tooth, indicating the pulp is dying or dead.
Swelling or tenderness in the gum near a tooth.
A persistent spot or pimple on the gum — a sinus tract, where infection is draining.
Pain when biting or chewing.
Sometimes a dying tooth causes no pain at all and is only found on an X-ray at a check-up. That is one of the better arguments for going regularly.
What the treatment involves
It is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the tooth and the area around it are numb throughout. Most patients report pressure and vibration rather than pain. Broadly:
An X-ray confirms the extent of infection and shows the shape of the root canals.
Local anaesthetic is given. Once you are numb, a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry and clean.
An opening is made through the top of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber.
Fine instruments remove the pulp and shape the canals.
The canals are cleaned with an antibacterial solution.
The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed.
A filling is placed, and in most cases a crown is fitted later to protect the tooth from fracture.
How long does it take?
A single-rooted tooth such as a front incisor can often be completed in one appointment of 60 to 90 minutes. Molars have multiple roots and more complex canals, so they usually take two appointments of 60 to 90 minutes each, with a medicated dressing and temporary filling in between.
If infection is significant, your dentist may deliberately wait before placing the final seal, to let things settle. That is normal and does not mean anything has gone wrong.
Afterwards: what to expect
Some tenderness for a few days after each appointment is normal, particularly where there was infection beforehand. Over-the-counter ibuprofen or paracetamol usually handles it comfortably. Avoid chewing hard food on the tooth until it has been permanently restored. Most people go back to normal activities the same day.
Once the pulp is removed the tooth is no longer 'alive', which makes it a little more brittle over time — that is why a crown is normally recommended. Root-canal-treated teeth, properly restored and reviewed, can last as long as natural teeth.
Root canal treatment at Pear Tree Dental, Nottingham
If a tooth is hurting, or you have been told you need root canal treatment and want a second opinion on cost, we will assess the tooth and give you a clear written price before anything starts. Book an appointment or call us on 0115 931 2935. We are at 22 Nottingham Road, Burton Joyce, NG14 5AE — minutes from Gedling, Arnold, Lowdham and Carlton. If you are in significant pain now, see our emergency dentist guide.
FAQ
Q: How much does a root canal cost in Nottingham? A: At Pear Tree Dental, from £300 for a single canal, £350 for two canals, and £450 for a molar. A crown afterwards is from £750. On the NHS it is a Band 2 charge (£76.60) as of April 2026, if you can get an NHS appointment.
Q: Is root canal treatment painful? A: The treatment is done under local anaesthetic and is not typically painful — most patients are surprised how ordinary it feels. What people remember as 'root canal pain' is usually the infection beforehand.
Q: Do I definitely need a crown afterwards? A: Usually, yes, particularly on back teeth that take heavy chewing forces. The tooth becomes more brittle once the pulp is gone, and a crown (from £750) protects it from fracturing. Your dentist will tell you if your tooth is one of the cases where it is not needed.
Q: What happens if I do not have it done? A: The infection will not clear on its own. It usually worsens and spreads into the surrounding bone, and the tooth is eventually lost. Antibiotics can settle an acute infection temporarily but do not fix the underlying problem.
Q: Can a root-canal-treated tooth get infected again? A: Yes, though it is uncommon. Reinfection can happen if the seal breaks down, a canal was missed, or decay reaches the root again. That is why the crown and regular check-ups matter.
Q: How do I know if I need a root canal or just a filling? A: An X-ray and clinical examination are the only reliable way — symptoms alone will not tell you, and neither will the internet. Book an assessment or call 0115 931 2935 to talk through your symptoms.
Clinically reviewed by Javaad Mirza (MD, BDS), Principal Dentist at Pear Tree Dental, GDC No. 290378. Last reviewed July 2026. Prices correct at the time of review and confirmed in writing before treatment; NHS charges are those in force from 1 April 2026. This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Call 0115 931 2935 if a tooth is hurting.