Root canal treatment

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Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, relieving pain and letting you keep your natural tooth. It has a high success rate and is carried out under local anaesthetic across our five Hong Kong clinics.

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Root Canal Treatment at Diestel Dental Group, Hong Kong

What is root canal treatment?

Inside every tooth is a soft core (the pulp) containing nerves and blood vessels. When it becomes inflamed or infected — often from deep decay, a crack, trauma or repeated dental work — it can cause severe pain or an abscess. Root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment) removes the affected pulp, disinfects the canals and seals the tooth, so you can keep your natural tooth rather than losing it. An infected or abscessed tooth can also cause bad breath that won’t go away.

When properly treated and cared for, a root-treated tooth has a high success rate of over 95% and can last for many years.

What the treatment involves

Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic and is usually comfortable. The main steps are:

  1. Numbing the tooth with local anaesthetic.
  2. Placing a rubber dam to isolate and keep the tooth clean and dry.
  3. Making a small opening to reach the pulp chamber and canals.
  4. Removing the inflamed or infected pulp.
  5. Rinsing the canals with disinfecting solution throughout.
  6. Shaping the canals with fine, flexible instruments.
  7. Filling the canals with a biocompatible material (gutta-percha) and sealer.
  8. Sealing the opening with a temporary or permanent filling.
  9. Restoring the tooth — often with a crown that covers the biting surface to protect it and prevent re-infection.

At select clinics, treatment can be carried out with the aid of a dental operating microscope, which helps with locating and cleaning the canals in more complex cases.

Recovery

Serious after-effects are uncommon. Mild tenderness is normal and generally settles over a few days up to about two weeks, and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, or medication your dentist prescribes. The restored tooth is cared for like any other — brushing, flossing and regular check-ups.

How much does root canal treatment cost in Hong Kong?

The fee depends on which tooth is treated (front teeth have fewer canals than molars) and its complexity. As a reference, the Prince Philip Dental Hospital’s private-patient fee schedule lists root canal treatment at HK$6,600–25,000 per tooth, with a crown charged separately at HK$7,700–12,000 per unit. These are reference fees only, not our clinics’ actual fees; your fee is confirmed after an assessment.

What affects the fee:

  • Which tooth: front teeth usually have one canal; molars often have three or four, sometimes curved, so treatment takes longer and costs more.
  • First treatment or re-treatment: re-treating a previously root-filled tooth means removing the old filling first; the reference fee is about HK$8,000–20,000.
  • Canal complexity and equipment: calcified, curved or extra canals may need a surgical microscope, or a 3D CBCT scan to see the root shape; these cases take longer and usually cost more. Within the group, surgical microscopes are at Smith & Jain, Diestel & Partners and Bayside North Plaza, and CBCT at Smith & Jain and at Bayside Tung Chung, North Plaza and Main Plaza.
  • Who treats you: fees also differ between a general dentist and a specialist in endodontics.

Fees above are reference fees from the Prince Philip Dental Hospital private-patient fee schedule, for reference only and not our clinics’ actual fees; your exact fee is confirmed after an examination. Please consult a dentist for advice on your situation.

Booking at your nearest clinic

Root canal treatment is available across our five Hong Kong clinics. Our dentists speak English, Cantonese, Mandarin and other languages. Choose the location most convenient for you:

Equipment varies by clinic; your dentist decides after an examination whether it is needed.

Related: A root-treated tooth is often protected with a crown. If the tooth cannot be saved, ask about a dental implant. Anxious? See dentistry under sedation.

Frequently asked questions

Does root canal treatment hurt?
Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so it is usually comfortable — it relieves the pain of an infected tooth rather than causing it. Mild tenderness afterwards is normal.
What is the success rate?
When the tooth is properly treated and cared for, root canal treatment has a high success rate of over 95%, and the tooth can last for many years.
How long does recovery take?
Any tenderness usually settles over a few days up to about two weeks and can be managed with simple pain relief. Contact the clinic if pain persists or worsens.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
Often yes. A crown covers and protects the biting surface, helping prevent the tooth from fracturing or becoming re-infected. Your dentist will advise.
Is it better to have a root canal or an extraction?
Where possible, keeping your natural tooth with a root canal is usually preferable. If the tooth cannot be saved, options such as an implant or bridge can replace it.
How much does it cost in Hong Kong?
The Prince Philip Dental Hospital’s private-patient fee schedule lists root canal treatment at HK$6,600–25,000 per tooth and retreatment at HK$8,000–20,000, depending on the tooth; a crown is charged separately, at HK$7,700–12,000 per unit. These are reference fees only, not our clinics’ actual fees; your fee is confirmed after an assessment.

Book a root canal assessment at your nearest Hong Kong clinic.

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