Root Canal Cost in North London: What You’ll Pay and What It Includes
If you are searching for the root canal cost in North London, you are probably in pain and want a straight answer. Here it is: at Blue Light Dental in Archway N19, root canal treatment is £650 to £850 per tooth, and that figure covers the whole procedure, however many visits it takes. If the tooth is hurting now, call us on 020 8340 0666 and we will find you the earliest slot. The rest of this guide explains what sits inside that price, what can be added afterwards, and why saving the tooth usually costs less than losing it.
Root canal cost in North London: the short version
| Item | Fee at Blue Light Dental |
|---|---|
| Root canal treatment (per tooth, all visits) | £650 to £850 |
| Dental exam and consultation (includes a free digital scan) | £65 |
| X-ray (where needed) | £10 |
| Porcelain crown (Emax), if recommended afterwards | from £800 |
| Post and core, if the tooth needs rebuilding before the crown | £300 |
| Composite (white) filling, if a crown is not needed | £180 to £350 |
All figures are from our published fee list and are correct at the time of writing. You will always get a written quote before any treatment starts.
Why is there a range?
Front teeth usually have one root canal. Back teeth (molars) can have three or four, and the canals are often narrower and curved. More canals mean more time, more precision and sometimes a second visit, which is why a molar sits at the top of the £650 to £850 range and an incisor sits at the bottom.
Two other things move the price within the range: how much of the tooth is left to work with, and whether an infection has spread beyond the root tip. Neither is something you can judge at home, which is why the consultation and X-ray come first.
What the fee includes
The root canal fee covers everything that happens inside the tooth:
- Local anaesthetic, delivered with The Wand computerised system so the numbing itself is comfortable
- Opening the tooth and removing the inflamed or infected pulp
- Cleaning, shaping and disinfecting every canal
- Sealing the canals with gutta-percha, a biocompatible filling material
- A temporary filling to close the tooth between visits, if a second appointment is needed
It does not include the final restoration on top, because that depends on the tooth. That is the part people are most often surprised by, so it deserves its own section.
Do I need a crown after a root canal, and what does that add?
Not always. A front tooth with plenty of structure left can often be finished with a white filling (£180 to £350). A back tooth is different. Molars take the highest biting forces, and the access opening made during treatment leaves them more likely to crack. For most root-treated molars we recommend a porcelain crown, which starts from £800. If a lot of the tooth is missing, a post and core (£300) rebuilds a foundation for the crown first.
So a realistic all-in figure for a molar root canal with a crown in North London is roughly £1,450 to £1,950, spread across two or three visits. For a front tooth finished with a filling, expect around £830 to £1,200. Our crowns and bridges page explains the options in more detail.
Root canal vs extraction: which costs less?
On the day, extraction is cheaper. A simple extraction starts from £195. But a missing tooth is rarely the end of the bill. The teeth either side drift, the bite changes, and most people end up replacing the gap. A single dental implant with its crown starts from around £2,750 (implant fixture from £1,650 plus the implant crown from £1,100). Root canal treatment keeps your own tooth in place for a fraction of that, which is why we will always tell you when a tooth can be saved.
Does it hurt?
This is the question behind most of the searches, so the honest answer: modern root canal treatment feels much like having a deep filling. The tooth is fully numbed before anything starts. Afterwards you may notice mild tenderness when biting for a few days as the ligament around the root settles. Ordinary painkillers manage that comfortably, and severe pain after a properly completed root canal is uncommon. If it does happen, you have a direct route back to us.
How many visits, and how long?
Most front teeth are completed in a single appointment of 60 to 90 minutes. Back teeth with more canals sometimes take two. If a crown is recommended, that is typically one further visit for the preparation and scan, then a short fitting appointment once the crown is made.
What if I am in pain right now?
Toothache that keeps you awake, pain on biting, swelling in the gum or a bad taste in the mouth can all point to an infected pulp. Do not wait for it to settle on its own; the infection can spread and turn a treatable tooth into an emergency. Call 020 8340 0666 during opening hours and tell us you are in pain. Our emergency dentist in Archway page explains how urgent appointments work and what to do while you wait. If you think you have an abscess, this guide covers the warning signs.
Ways to pay
We accept all major cards and can spread larger treatment plans, such as a root canal plus crown, over monthly payments. Ask at your consultation and we will set it out in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a root canal cost in North London at Blue Light Dental?
£650 to £850 per tooth, covering all visits for the root canal itself. A crown, if recommended, is from £800 on top.
Is the consultation included in the root canal fee?
The consultation is £65 and includes a free digital scan. If X-rays are needed they are £10 each. Both are separate from the treatment fee.
Can a root canal be done in one visit?
Often, yes, for front teeth and premolars. Molars with several canals sometimes need a second visit. We tell you which applies to your tooth before we start.
Will the tooth look different afterwards?
Root-treated teeth can darken over time. A crown or, for front teeth, a white filling or veneer keeps the tooth looking natural. We plan the final restoration with you.
Do you offer root canal treatment for patients who are not registered with you?
Yes. New patients in Archway, Holloway, Islington and across North London can book a consultation directly, or call if the tooth is painful.
Book a consultation
Call 020 8340 0666, or book online for a consultation. You can read more about the procedure itself on our root canal treatment page, and every fee mentioned here is listed on our fees page.
Blue Light Dental & Aesthetics, 662-664 Holloway Road, Archway, London N19 3NU. Clinical lead: Dr Sanyukta Kothari, GDC 283340. This article is general information and is not a substitute for an examination.
