Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Cost in Sydney by Tooth Type

• Front tooth (incisor or canine): around $1,200
• Premolar: around $1,900
• Molar: around $2,500

Front teeth usually have a single root canal, which makes treatment more straightforward. Premolars typically have one or two. Molars, at the back of the mouth, commonly have three or four, they are harder to reach, and treating them takes longer, which is why they sit at the top of the range.

Why the Price Varies Between Teeth

The number of canals. Each canal has to be cleaned, shaped and sealed individually. A molar with four canals is close to four times the work of a single-canal front tooth.

How complex the canals are. Curved, narrow or calcified canals take longer and need more care to treat thoroughly.

The condition of the tooth. A tooth with significant decay or an existing large filling may need extra work before the root canal can begin.

Whether it is a retreatment. Treating a tooth that has had a root canal before is more involved than treating one for the first time, because the previous filling material has to be removed first.

What the Fee Includes

Your root canal fee covers the treatment of the tooth itself: accessing the canals, cleaning and shaping them, disinfecting, and sealing them. Local anaesthetic and the temporary filling that closes the tooth between visits are included.

Quoted separately are the X-rays and examination that establish whether a root canal is needed, and the crown that is often recommended afterwards, which is $2,200.

Why a Crown Is Usually Recommended Afterwards

A tooth that has had root canal treatment loses its internal blood supply and becomes more brittle over time, and back teeth take considerable force when you chew. A crown covers the whole tooth and holds it together, which is why it is commonly recommended for premolars and molars after root canal treatment.

Front teeth do not always need one. Where enough healthy tooth structure remains and the bite allows it, a filling can be sufficient. Your dentist will tell you which applies to your tooth before you commit to anything.

Root Canal or Extraction: Which Costs Less?

Removing the tooth is cheaper on the day. The question is what happens next. A missing back tooth affects how you chew and lets neighbouring teeth drift, so most people eventually replace it, and a dental implant or a bridge costs considerably more than the root canal and crown would have. Keeping your natural tooth is usually both the better clinical outcome and the more economical one over time.

There are situations where a tooth cannot be saved, and we will say so plainly if that is the case rather than treating a tooth with a poor outlook.

Does Health Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment usually falls under major dental. Many policies contribute, and what you get back depends on your fund, your level of cover, and your annual limits. We give you the item numbers before treatment so you can confirm your rebate with your fund rather than guessing.

Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?

The treatment itself is carried out under local anaesthetic, so it should feel similar to having a filling: pressure rather than pain. Most of the pain people associate with root canals comes from the infection beforehand, which the treatment relieves. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and usually settles with ordinary pain relief. We also offer happy gas for patients who feel anxious about treatment.

Root Canal Cost FAQs