2026 Root Canal Treatment Cost | General vs. Specialist Fee Comparison | Is It Painful? Complete Guide to Microscope-Assisted Treatment

Root canal cost in Hong Kong, 2026: about HK$4,000–8,000 per tooth at private clinics, HK$12,000–25,000 with an endodontic specialist or at a private hospital, crown extra; eligible people pay nothing to HK$50 under the Community Dental Support Programme; Shenzhen about ¥1,000–3,000 (/fees hub), one dental hospital's list ¥1,280–1,980. Figures checked 25 September 2026.

Root canal treatment is the last step for keeping an infected tooth: the inflamed or dead pulp is cleaned out of the canals, the canals are disinfected and sealed, and the spread of bacteria into the gum and jawbone that would otherwise force an extraction is stopped¹⁹. Below, from published figures only: what it costs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, what a quote includes, why quotes differ, and who qualifies for subsidised care.

Hong Kong root canal fee benchmark 2026

Item (per tooth)	Public (DH / HA / university dentistry)	Non-profit / subsidised	Private clinics (general range)	Shenzhen (published)
Root canal, general dentist	Not offered at DH General Public Sessions, which only relieve pain or extract1; HKU Faculty of Dentistry IAD (resident dentists) from HK$5,7006	Community Dental Support Programme: Category A free, Category B HK$50 per tooth, one tooth every 365 days3,4	HK$4,000–8,0009,10; one published list splits it: front teeth / premolars HK$5,000, molars HK$6,000–6,5009	¥1,000–3,000 (/fees hub); one dental hospital's published list: front or back tooth ¥1,280–1,980 all-in16
Endodontic specialist / private hospital	No public specialist root canal clinic for the general public1,2	The programme does not distinguish general from specialist; as above3	Private hospital dental centres HK$12,000–25,000, plus specialist consultation HK$1,500–2,5007,8	No verifiable published specialist price found
Retreatment (second root canal)	HKU IAD from HK$7,3006	Not listed in the programme documents3	Not itemised on clinic lists; falls within the hospital range HK$12,000–25,0007,8	No verifiable published price found
Crown after root canal	Prince Philip Dental Hospital teaching patients HK$870 per tooth (selection required)5; HKU IAD from HK$6,0006	CDSP does not cover a new crown, only removal of bridges and crowns3,4	Clinics HK$4,500–8,500 (all-ceramic back tooth HK$6,000–6,500, front tooth HK$8,000–8,500)9,10; private hospitals HK$18,000–25,0007,8	No verifiable published price for a stand-alone crown (the /fees hub's ¥1,880–6,980 is, in source16, an implant-plus-porcelain-crown package price, not a crown alone)
Post and core (only if little tooth is left)	Prince Philip Dental Hospital charges at material cost5	—	Clinics HK$1,500–2,5009,10; private hospitals HK$2,000–6,0007,8	—

The HKU⁶, Union Hospital⁷ and Hong Kong Sanatorium⁸ schedules all quote one price per tooth without splitting front teeth, premolars and molars, so the table does not split by tooth position either; one clinic list does (see point 2 below)⁹. For all ten common treatments side by side, see Hong Kong dental fees at a glance.

By tooth position: front teeth, premolars and molars

At the same clinic, a molar root canal usually costs more than a front tooth, because molars have more, and more curved, canals and take longer^9,10. Public, university, subsidy-scheme and private-hospital fee schedules, however, quote one price per tooth whatever its position^3,6–8; the only position-by-position figures available are private-market reference ranges compiled by the media and an insurer^9,10.

Tooth	Public / university	Non-profit / subsidised	Private (market reference)	Shenzhen (published)
Front teeth (incisors, canines)	HKU Faculty of Dentistry clinic: one price per tooth, from HK$5,7006; DH dental clinics do not offer root canals1	Community Dental Support Programme, no split by tooth: Category A free, Category B HK$50 per tooth3,4	General dentist about HK$3,000–6,0009,10; endodontic specialist about HK$6,000–10,00010	One dental hospital's published price, same for front teeth and molars: RMB 1,280–1,980 (all-inclusive)16
Premolars	Same (no split by tooth)6	Same3	General dentist about HK$4,000–7,0009,10; specialist about HK$7,500–12,00010	No separate published price found
Molars	Same (no split by tooth)6	Same3	General dentist about HK$5,000–10,0009,10; specialist about HK$9,000–16,000 or more10	Same as front teeth: RMB 1,280–1,980 (all-inclusive)16

When you get a quote, ask about the three items most often left out: the crown (almost always extra), X-rays (periapical films and CBCT scans may be billed separately) and follow-up visits (whether in-course reviews and temporary fillings are included)^7–9,14. The full breakdown is in "What the price includes, and what it does not" and the five quote questions below.

What the price includes, and what it does not

A root canal quote usually covers one thing: cleaning and sealing the canals. The Consumer Council reminds patients that consultation, X-rays and medication may be billed separately¹⁴. Published lists show these line items:

• Consultation: HK$1,500–2,500 for a specialist at private hospitals^7,8; a few hundred dollars at clinics, sometimes included in treatment^9,10.
• X-rays: a periapical film about HK$100–300^7–9; if the canals are curved or a hidden canal is suspected, a CBCT scan may be needed at HK$1,200–2,100^7,8,10.
• Anaesthetic and medication: one clinic list states root canal fees include the anaesthetic and drugs⁹; hospitals and other clinics may not, so ask.
• Temporary filling and follow-up visits: treatment usually takes two or more appointments^19,20, with a temporary seal in between; if it falls out, go back promptly so saliva does not carry bacteria into the pulp¹⁹. Ask whether visits within the course are charged separately.
• Post and core: only needed when little tooth structure remains; clinics HK$1,500–2,500, hospitals HK$2,000–6,000^7–10.
• Crown: almost always extra. Clinics HK$4,500–8,500, private hospitals HK$18,000–25,000^7–10.

So "root canal plus crown" on a back tooth comes to roughly HK$8,500–16,500 at a typical clinic and HK$30,000–50,000 at a private hospital^7–10. For a line-by-line walk-through of a quote, read how to read a dental quote.

Why do prices differ so much?

1. General dentist or endodontic specialist: the Dental Council's specialist register has 8 specialties, and Endodontics is one of them¹². The American Association of Endodontists says endodontists have at least two extra years of training beyond dental school and perform an average of 25 root canals a week, against perhaps two for a general dentist²³. Specialist and hospital schedules run two to three times clinic prices^7–10.
2. Tooth position and canal complexity: molars usually have three or four canals, often curved and sometimes calcified, and take far longer; one published list charges HK$1,000–1,500 more for a molar than a front tooth⁹. Retreatment means removing the old filling first and hunting for missed canals; HKU IAD's retreatment fee is about 28% above its first-time fee (HK$7,300 vs HK$5,700)⁶.
3. Clinic or private hospital: for the same treatment, hospital schedules bundle specialist consultation, imaging and hospital facilities, and sit in a different price band altogether^7,8.
4. Equipment and materials: the AAE calls the operating microscope "an integral and important part" of modern endodontic technique²⁴ and the dental dam the standard of care for non-surgical root canal treatment²⁵; that equipment, and single-use files, show up in the fee.
5. Number and length of visits: the NHS says two or more appointments of one to two hours or longer²⁰, and the DH likewise expects several sessions¹⁹; more chair time means a higher fee.

How to use public and subsidised services

• DH General Public Sessions: pain relief and extraction only, no root canal treatment; free for eligible persons, HK$850 per visit for non-eligible persons from 1 January 2026^1,2; useful for pain relief while you decide between a root canal and an extraction.
• Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP): root canal treatment was added from 1 January 2026, one tooth every 365 days; Category A patients pay nothing, Category B HK$50 per tooth^3,4. Eligibility: a Hong Kong ID card, eHealth registration, and current receipt of the Old Age Living Allowance, a Community Care Service Voucher, designated home-care services or an HA medical fee waiver³. The Community Care Fund elderly dental programme closed to new applications on 1 January 2026 and is replaced by the CDSP⁴. The programme covers removal of bridges and crowns but not a new crown after the root canal^3,4.
• Elderly Health Care Vouchers: HK$2,000 a year for people aged 65 or over, with a balance cap of HK$8,000, usable with dentists enrolled in the scheme¹¹.
• University dentistry: HKU Faculty of Dentistry IAD (resident dentists) root canal from HK$5,700, retreatment from HK$7,300, crown from HK$6,000⁶; Prince Philip Dental Hospital teaching patients pay HK$870 per crown and HK$50 per attendance day, but cases are selected for teaching and take longer⁵.

Eligibility and application steps for all seven public and subsidised routes are on the Hong Kong dental subsidies page; if you are not eligible, see affordable dental care in Hong Kong.

Five questions to ask before you accept a quote

1. Is this price per tooth? Does it include the consultation, X-rays, anaesthetic and medication?¹⁴
2. How many visits are expected, and are the temporary filling and follow-up visits within the course charged separately?^15,19
3. Will I need a crown or a post afterwards? How much is the crown and what material?^7–9
4. If the canals turn out to be calcified or curved and I am referred to a specialist midway, how is what I have already paid handled? The Consumer Council says dentists should communicate early and clearly when fees need adjusting¹⁵.
5. Is the dentist treating me a general dentist or a registered endodontic specialist? You can check the Dental Council register¹².

Section 1.4 of the Dental Council's Code of Professional Discipline requires clinics to tell patients they may request a quotation before treatment, and dentists should give one where substantial fees will be incurred¹³. To check registration and specialist status, read how to verify a dentist in Hong Kong.

Shenzhen vs Hong Kong: what to weigh beyond the price

Shenzhen list prices are clearly lower: the /fees hub gives about ¥1,000–3,000, and a dental hospital's published list, compiled by Hong Kong media, shows ¥1,280–1,980 all-in for a front or back tooth, with the comparison table starting from ¥500¹⁶; after national volume-based procurement, a routine single implant at Guangdong public hospitals fell from about ¥15,000 to about ¥7,000 all-in^17,18. But a root canal is a course, not a single visit: two or more sessions, then a crown, and possibly a re-infection later. The Consumer Council warns that the mainland has no independent statutory body regulating dentists or dental clinics, so understand the local regulatory and complaint mechanisms before you go¹⁴. The points on follow-up, records and complaints in Hong Kong vs Shenzhen dental implant cost apply equally here.

Why a root canal is needed: from deep decay to pulpitis

The outside of a tooth is hard enamel, but inside is a space full of nerves and blood vessels called the pulp chamber. When bacteria reach it through deep decay, a crack or an injury, the result is irreversible pulpitis and eventually a dead pulp^20,21. The warning signs listed by the American Association of Endodontists include²¹:

• Severe pain when biting or chewing, often worse at night.
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold that continues after the stimulus is gone.
• A "pimple" on the gum, a small white spot near the gum line that hurts when pressed.
• A darkening tooth, as the pulp dies; there may also be a chip, crack or deep decay.

For the stage at which a root canal becomes necessary, see tooth decay stages and treatment costs.

Does it hurt? The standard treatment in 5 steps

The NHS says you are given a local anaesthetic, so you are awake but will not feel pain²⁰; the AAE says modern root canal treatment is designed to eliminate pain, not cause it, and most people report feeling comfortable during the procedure with only mild, short-term soreness afterwards^21,22.

1. Diagnosis and anaesthetic: X-rays confirm the shape and number of roots, then a local anaesthetic is given²⁰.
2. Dental dam isolation: a rubber sheet keeps saliva and bacteria out of the canals and irrigating solutions out of your mouth; the AAE lists it as the standard of care for non-surgical root canal treatment²⁵.
3. Access and removal of infection: the dentist opens the crown of the tooth and removes the inflamed pulp with fine files. A microscope helps locate hidden canals narrowed by calcification (such as the MB2 canal common in upper molars) and cracks invisible to the naked eye²⁴.
4. Disinfection and shaping: the canals are flushed with irrigating solutions to kill remaining bacteria, and medication may be placed between visits¹⁹.
5. Sealing: once the tooth is settled, the canals are packed tightly with gutta-percha and the access cavity is filled^19,20.

The whole course usually takes two or more appointments of one to two hours²⁰. For vital pulp therapy, pulpotomy and other options, see the root canal procedure step-by-step guide.

Aftercare: why a crown is usually needed

A tooth that has lost its nerve and blood supply becomes brittle. The DH says a tooth left too weak after pulp treatment needs a crown¹⁹; the NHS says a crown may be needed if the tooth was badly infected²⁰; the AAE says the tooth is restored with a crown or filling and then functions normally²¹. Back teeth carry heavy loads, and without a crown they can split vertically, leaving extraction as the last resort. The AAE also notes that delaying the crown, or a restoration that lets saliva leak back into the tooth, is a common reason root canals fail and need redoing²⁶.

• All-ceramic crown: clinic list prices HK$6,000–6,500 for a back tooth and HK$8,000–8,500 for a front tooth⁹; private hospitals HK$18,000–25,000^7,8.
• Fibre post: only needed when too little tooth is left to hold a crown; clinics HK$1,500–2,500^9,10.
• Greying front tooth: a front tooth that darkens after a root canal can be treated with internal bleaching, from HK$2,500 at HKU IAD⁶; see internal bleaching after root canal: prices.

Root canal or extraction? The long-term arithmetic

"Root canal plus crown" on a back tooth is roughly HK$8,500–16,500 at a typical clinic^9,10, far more than an extraction, but the gap has to be filled afterwards:

Comparison	Keep the tooth (root canal + crown)	Lose the tooth (extraction + implant)
Upfront cost	Clinics HK$8,500–16,5009,10	Extraction HK$600–1,500, then a single implant from HK$17,000–18,000 at clinic list prices, crown not always included9,10
Visits and time	One to two visits plus the crown28	Surgery, then healing time, in several stages over months28
Longevity	With proper restoration and care, can last a lifetime21,28	Also long-lasting, but components may need maintenance or replacement28
Bite and feel	"Nothing looks, feels or functions like a natural tooth"27; preserves natural tooth structure and normal bite alignment28	Implants, like natural teeth, need careful home care and regular visits to prevent peri-implant disease29

The AAE concludes that extraction plus the restoration that follows can cost more than a root canal with a single crown, and that extraction is the larger procedure²⁷. Not every tooth can be saved: a split root or too little remaining tooth may make extraction the sounder choice, for the dentist to assess. Implant prices are covered in the Hong Kong dental implant cost guide.

When to see a dentist immediately

A pulp infection will not clear on its own³⁰. Do not wait if you have:

• Swelling of the face, jaw or neck, or a high temperature³⁰.
• Difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing, trouble opening your mouth, or a swollen or painful eye or sudden eyesight problems: go to A&E now³⁰.
• A gum abscess that has burst and is draining pus, or pain that keeps you awake and does not respond to painkillers.
• A temporary filling that has fallen out mid-treatment¹⁹.
• Pain or swelling returning months after a root canal, which may mean re-infection; see root canal failure symptoms and retreatment cost.

For first aid and public emergency routes, see the toothache emergency guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a root canal cost in Hong Kong?

About HK$4,000–8,000 per tooth at private clinics, HK$12,000–25,000 with a specialist or private hospital, crown extra from HK$4,500; eligible people pay nothing to HK$50 under the CDSP^3,7–10.

Why can root canal prices in Hong Kong differ several-fold?

General dentist or specialist, clinic or hospital, how complex the tooth is, and whether X-rays, a post and the crown are included. Specialist and hospital schedules run two to three times clinic prices^7–10.

Does the root canal fee include the crown?

Usually not. Clinic crowns are HK$4,500–8,500 and private hospital crowns HK$18,000–25,000 on top; the CDSP does not cover a new crown either^3,7–10.

How do I choose a root canal dentist: general dentist or specialist?

The Dental Council register lists 8 specialties, Endodontics among them¹². Straightforward front teeth are commonly treated by general dentists; curved or calcified canals and retreatments are more often referred to a specialist^23,24.

Where is root canal treatment cheaper in Hong Kong?

Eligible people can use the CDSP (free to HK$50)^3,4; HKU IAD resident dentists charge from HK$5,700⁶; DH General Public Sessions do not offer root canals¹.

Does a root canal hurt, and how many visits does it take?

With a local anaesthetic the procedure should not hurt, though mild, short-lived soreness afterwards is common^20,22. It usually takes two or more visits of one to two hours²⁰.

Is root canal treatment the same as endodontic treatment?

Yes. 杜牙根 is the everyday Cantonese term; the formal names are endodontic (pulp) treatment or root canal treatment, and the Department of Health's oral health education site lists the three names together as one treatment¹⁹. Fee lists may use any of these names, so compare what is included instead: which tooth, X-rays, a post and the crown^9,10. If you are in severe pain or your face is swelling, start with the toothache triage guide.

Do I need a microscope root canal, and does it cost extra?

The American Association of Endodontists' position statement calls the dental operating microscope an integral part of modern root canal treatment, helping to find calcified or hidden canals and cracks the eye cannot see²⁴; complex cases such as curved or calcified canals and retreatments are more often referred to an endodontic specialist^23,24. Whether a microscope will be used, and whether it is included in the fee, is worth asking before treatment: section 1.4 of the Dental Council's Code of Professional Discipline says patients have the right to ask for a quote first¹³. See how to read a dental quote.

How do I check whether a dentist is a registered endodontist?

Search the Dental Council of Hong Kong's Specialist Register and choose Endodontics to see the list and registration details¹²; a dentist who is not on that list is not a registered endodontic specialist. For step-by-step checks and questions to ask, see how to verify a dentist in Hong Kong.

How many registered endodontic specialists are there in Hong Kong?

The Dental Council of Hong Kong's Specialist Register (as at 31 August 2026) lists 23 specialists in Endodontics (Dental Council: Specialist in Endodontics list (PDF))¹². Endodontics is one of the register's 8 specialties; more complex cases, such as curved or calcified canals or retreatment, are more often referred to a specialist^23,24. If your dentist suggests a referral, ask why, what the likely fee is (specialist and private-hospital fee schedules are generally higher than clinics; see the benchmark table above^7–10), and how the work already done will be charged¹⁵. This site does not recommend or rank individual dentists.

Related guides

• Hong Kong dental fees at a glance: ten treatments, public to Shenzhen, side by side.
• Hong Kong dental subsidies: eligibility and applications for public sessions, the CDSP and vouchers.
• Root canal procedure step-by-step guide: vital pulp therapy, pulpotomy and full root canal treatment compared.
• Root canal failure symptoms and retreatment cost: when retreatment or apical surgery is needed.
• How to read a dental quote: line by line, nothing hidden.
• How to verify a dentist in Hong Kong: confirm registration and specialist status on the Dental Council register.
• Hong Kong filling costs: if decay has not reached the pulp, a filling is enough.
• Internal bleaching after root canal: what to do about a front tooth that has turned grey.

Sources

1. Department of Health: Dental General Public Sessions (scope and fees) dh.gov.hk, page updated 2026-07-30, checked 2026-09-25.
2. Department of Health: Dental service fee schedule dh.gov.hk, revised 2026-02-06, checked 2026-09-25.
3. Community Dental Support Programme: introduction, services and co-payments communitydental.gov.hk, 2026-09, checked 2026-09-25.
4. Government press release: CDSP service expansion from 1 January 2026 info.gov.hk, 2025-12-17, checked 2026-09-25.
5. Prince Philip Dental Hospital: schedule of fees for teaching patients ppdh.org.hk, effective 2026-03-01, checked 2026-09-25.
6. HKU Faculty of Dentistry, Integrated Advanced Dentistry: fee schedule for resident dentists (PDF) iad.facdent.hku.hk, 2025-09-03, checked 2026-09-25.
7. Union Hospital: Dental Centre charges (PDF) union.org, effective 2026-05-01, checked 2026-09-25.
8. Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital: Dental Centre charges (PDF) hksh.com, effective 2026-08-01, checked 2026-09-25.
9. Private clinic market reference: Hong Kong Economic Journal: root canal process, fees and aftercare (Chinese) (6 Mar 2025; front teeth about $3,000–6,000, premolars $4,000–7,000, molars $5,000–10,000); this site also checked two private clinics' published price lists in Sep 2026 (not named or linked, to stay neutral). checked 5 Oct 2026.
10. Private clinic market reference: Bowtie (insurer): what is root canal treatment, and fees (Chinese) (updated 19 Aug 2026; general dentist: front $3,000–5,500, premolar $4,000–7,000, molar $5,000–9,000; endodontic specialist: front $6,000–10,000, premolar $7,500–12,000, molar $9,000–16,000+, rechecked 26 Oct 2026); this site also checked two private clinics' published price lists in Sep 2026 (not named or linked, to stay neutral). checked 5 Oct 2026.
11. Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme: background and amount hcv.gov.hk, 2026-09, checked 2026-09-25.
12. Dental Council of Hong Kong: Specialist Register (8 specialties) dchk.org.hk, checked 2026-09-25.
13. Dental Council of Hong Kong: Code of Professional Discipline, section 1.4 (fees and quotations) dchk.org.hk, checked 2026-09-25.
14. Consumer Council: CHOICE issue 572, dental service complaint cases consumer.org.hk, 2024-06, checked 2026-09-25.
15. Consumer Council: CHOICE issue 516, dental service complaint cases consumer.org.hk, 2019-10, checked 2026-09-25.
16. Economic Digest: mainland dental fees (Shenzhen scaling, filling, root canal and implant prices) edigest.hk, 2026-09-21, checked 2026-09-25.
17. National Healthcare Security Administration: dental implant volume-based procurement and price governance nhsa.gov.cn, 2024-01-12, checked 2026-09-25.
18. Southern Metropolis Daily: single routine implant at Guangdong public hospitals down to about ¥7,000 oeeee.com, 2023-09-22, checked 2026-09-25.
19. Department of Health Oral Health Education Unit: pulp treatment / root canal treatment toothclub.gov.hk, checked 2026-09-25.
20. NHS: Root canal treatment nhs.uk, checked 2026-09-25.
21. American Association of Endodontists: What is a Root Canal? aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
22. American Association of Endodontists: Root Canal Myths vs. Facts aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
23. American Association of Endodontists: Why See an Endodontist aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
24. American Association of Endodontists: Position Statement on Use of Microscopes and Other Magnification Techniques (PDF) aae.org, 2012, checked 2026-09-25.
25. American Association of Endodontists: Position Statement on Dental Dams (PDF) aae.org, 2024-04, checked 2026-09-25.
26. American Association of Endodontists: Endodontic Retreatment aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
27. American Association of Endodontists: Root Canal vs Extraction aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
28. American Association of Endodontists: Root Canal vs. Dental Implant aae.org, checked 2026-09-25.
29. American Academy of Periodontology: Dental Implant Procedures (implants need ongoing care to prevent peri-implant disease) perio.org, checked 2026-09-25.
30. NHS: Dental abscess (emergency warning signs) nhs.uk, checked 2026-09-25.

※ Actual fees depend on case difficulty.