Priya M.
“Three clinics said I needed a root canal, but Capcane's dentist looked at my X-ray and said it was just cleaning needed. Saved ₹7,000 and a lot of anxiety.”
Root Canal
Save your tooth. Stop the pain. Get an honest second opinion first.
Save your tooth. Stop the pain. Get an honest second opinion first.
Root Canal: Quick Answer
A root canal is a dental procedure that removes infected pulp from inside a tooth, relieves pain, and saves the tooth from extraction. It is not painful when done with proper anaesthesia and typically takes 60–90 minutes.
Key facts
A root canal (technically called Endodontic Therapy) removes the infected or inflamed soft tissue — called the pulp — from inside your tooth. Once removed, the canals are cleaned, disinfected, and sealed. The tooth is then restored with a crown so it looks and functions normally.
Every tooth has a hard outer shell (enamel and dentine) and a soft inner chamber called the pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels — it made your tooth alive as it grew. Once your tooth is fully formed, the pulp is no longer essential. A tooth can survive perfectly without its pulp, drawing nutrients from surrounding tissue instead.
Root canals become necessary when bacteria reach the pulp through a deep cavity, crack, or leaking filling. Bacteria multiply inside the pulp, causing inflammation (pulpitis), then infection, then death of the pulp. If untreated, the infection escapes through the root tip into the jawbone — forming an abscess with severe pain and swelling.
Enamel
The hardest substance in your body. The white outer layer. It has no nerves — damage here is painless.
Dentine
Yellowish layer beneath enamel. Has microscopic tubules connected to nerves. Damage causes cold, hot, or sweet sensitivity.
Pulp Chamber
The central hollow space in the crown of your tooth. Contains nerves and blood vessels. Infection here causes toothache.
Root Canals
Narrow channels running from the pulp chamber down through each root. Front teeth have 1 canal. Molars have 3–4. More canals = more complex treatment.
Periapical Region
The area at the tip of the root. When infection spreads here, it enters the jawbone and forms an abscess — the most painful and dangerous stage.
What actually happens during a root canal — from X-ray to crown.
⏱ 60–90 minutes (single visit) or 2–3 visits for severe infectionsThe dentist takes a periapical X-ray to map the root canal shape and check for bone infection. This step determines whether a root canal is actually needed — a missed canal or misread X-ray is the primary cause of treatment failure.
The area around the tooth is numbed completely. A properly administered root canal is not painful. If you felt pain during a previous root canal, the anaesthesia was insufficient — not proof that root canals are inherently painful.
Tell your dentist immediately if you feel anything during the procedure. You are entitled to more anaesthesia — do not endure pain.
A thin rubber sheet is placed around the tooth to isolate it from saliva and bacteria. This is not optional — it is a quality indicator. Dentists who skip the rubber dam significantly increase the risk of re-infection.
If your dentist does not use a rubber dam, ask why. Skipping it is a red flag.
A small hole is drilled through the top of the tooth into the pulp chamber. For front teeth, this is from the back surface. For molars, it is from the chewing surface.
Thin files (hand or rotary) remove the pulp and clean the canal walls. The canals are also shaped to allow thorough irrigation and sealing. Overshaping weakens the root; undershaping leaves bacteria behind. This is where specialist skill matters most.
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and EDTA are flushed through the canals to dissolve organic tissue and kill remaining bacteria. The thoroughness of irrigation directly determines long-term success rates.
The cleaned canals are filled with gutta-percha — a rubber-like material — and sealer. The fill must reach exactly to the root tip. Short or over-extended fills are a common cause of root canal failure.
After the root canal, the tooth is structurally weakened and prone to fracture under biting force. A crown is placed to protect it. Skipping the crown is one of the most common reasons root-canal-treated teeth are later lost.
Never skip the crown on a molar or premolar after a root canal. The tooth will fracture within months of normal chewing.
Crown adds ₹3,000–₹12,000 on top. Total cost including crown: ₹6,000–₹20,000.
Based on Capcane's 2026 analysis of pricing across 500+ dental clinics in India.
If you are wondering how much a root canal for a molar costs in India, the answer depends on the tooth type. Molars have 3–4 canals and require significantly more time and skill than front teeth — which is why the price ranges so widely.
| Tooth type | Procedure | Crown / add-on | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front tooth (1 canal) | ₹3,000–₹4,500 | ₹3,000–₹7,000 | ₹6,000–₹11,500 |
| Premolar (2 canals) | ₹4,000–₹6,000 | ₹4,000–₹9,000 | ₹8,000–₹15,000 |
| Molar (3–4 canals) | ₹5,000–₹8,000 | ₹5,000–₹12,000 | ₹10,000–₹20,000 |
Which tooth
Front teeth (1 canal) cost the least. Molars (3–4 canals) cost 2–3× more — they require more time and skill.
Severity of infection
Simple pulpitis is a single visit. A periapical abscess may need 2–3 visits to drain, settle, and seal safely.
Single vs multiple visits
Single-visit root canals are slightly more per session but cheaper overall and more convenient. Multi-visit is necessary only for severe infections.
Dentist specialisation
A general dentist charges ₹2,500–₹4,000. An endodontist (root canal specialist) charges ₹5,000–₹10,000 but has significantly higher success rates on complex cases.
Technology used
Clinics using rotary files, apex locators, and magnification charge more — but these tools dramatically reduce errors and procedure time.
Crown type
Metal (PFM) crowns cost ₹3,000–₹5,000. Full zirconia crowns cost ₹7,000–₹15,000 and are stronger and more aesthetic.
Red flags — watch out for these
The most common question we hear is: 'How do I know if I actually need a root canal?' The honest answer is that root canals are frequently overdiagnosed. Dentists sometimes recommend them for teeth with reversible pulpitis — where the pulp is irritated but not dead and will heal on its own with proper treatment. This is one of the most common issues Capcane encounters.
Signs you genuinely need it
Signs you might not need it
Capcane's position
Send us your X-ray. We assess whether the pulp is actually affected, whether infection has spread, and whether less invasive treatment (a deep filling or watchful waiting) could work first. We do not earn from treatments we recommend — our only interest is giving you the clinically correct advice.
Send us your X-ray
WhatsApp us your periapical X-ray (not an OPG). If you don't have one, we'll tell you what to request at your nearest diagnostic centre.
Specialist review in 24 hours
An endodontist reviews your X-ray and symptoms. They confirm whether a root canal is genuinely needed, which tooth, how many canals, and the realistic price range for your specific case.
Matched with the right dentist
If you need a root canal, we connect you with a verified endodontist near you — not a general dentist doing occasional root canals. We vet them for technique, equipment (rubber dam, rotary files, apex locator), and aftercare.
Written price estimate before you walk in
We give you a written cost estimate including the crown before you step into the clinic. No surprises. No upselling. You know what you are paying before you commit.
Real outcomes from real patients.
Priya M.
“Three clinics said I needed a root canal, but Capcane's dentist looked at my X-ray and said it was just cleaning needed. Saved ₹7,000 and a lot of anxiety.”
Karthik N.
“My 9-year-old had tooth pain. Our local dentist said ignore it — growing pains. Capcane spotted a pus area near the root on the X-ray. We did the root canal immediately and saved his permanent tooth.”
Get a free, honest second opinion — no commitment, no hidden fees.