What does it do?
It removes inflamed or infected tissue from inside a tooth, then cleans, fills and seals the canal system to help retain the natural tooth.
Tooth-saving treatment
Root canal treatment in Singapore
Assessment-led care for dental pain, infection, cracked teeth and previously treated teeth—with clear explanations, appropriate imaging and both general and specialist pathways.
- General and specialist pathways
- CHAS support for eligible patients
- Flexi-MediSave for eligible seniors
Clinically reviewed by Dr Grace Lau. Written by the Teeth Q Editorial Team. Clinical review completed: 4 October 2026. Fees shown are current at the date of review and are confirmed at your assessment.
Start here
Quick answers to common concerns
A clinical examination and suitable X-rays are needed before confirming whether root canal treatment, another tooth-saving option or extraction is appropriate.
Will it hurt?
Local anaesthesia is commonly used. You may feel pressure during treatment and temporary tenderness afterwards.
How many visits?
Some cases can be completed in one visit; complex anatomy, infection or retreatment may require additional appointments.
Will I need a crown?
The final restoration depends on the tooth, its position and how much sound structure remains. A crown is not automatic in every case. Crown types, fees and CHAS subsidies are explained on our dental crowns and bridges page.
When to seek an assessment
Symptoms and findings worth checking
Dental pain has several possible causes. A dentist or endodontist must assess the tooth before recommending treatment.
- Persistent, spontaneous or severe toothache
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- Pain when biting, chewing or releasing pressure
- Swelling, tenderness or a pimple-like bump on the gum
- A darkened tooth, deep decay, large filling or crack
- Symptoms returning in a previously root-treated tooth
Important: symptoms alone cannot confirm the diagnosis. Some teeth need monitoring, restorative treatment or extraction rather than root canal treatment.
Inside the tooth
Why the pulp may need treatment
The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth. Deep decay, cracks, trauma or repeated dental work can inflame or infect this tissue.
Root canal treatment removes the affected tissue, cleans and seals the canal system, and is followed by an appropriate restoration to protect function. Whether the tooth can be predictably saved depends on its condition and remaining structure.
Treatment pathways
Care depends on the diagnosis and restorability
These pathways are not interchangeable packages. The suitable approach is determined after examination and imaging.
Initial root canal treatment
Treatment for a tooth with inflamed or infected pulp that has not previously received root canal treatment.
Root canal retreatment
A previously treated tooth may be reassessed and retreated when symptoms, infection or another problem develops.
Root-end surgery
Endodontic surgery, such as an apicoectomy, may be considered for selected persistent problems when appropriate.
Extraction and replacement
If the tooth cannot reasonably be restored, removal and suitable replacement options may be discussed.
What to expect
A clear four-step treatment journey
The details and number of visits vary, but the typical pathway includes:
Assessment and imaging
Your symptoms, tooth condition, pulp response, surrounding tissues and X-rays are reviewed before confirming the plan.
Comfort and isolation
Local anaesthesia is commonly used. A dental dam helps isolate the tooth and supports a clean working field.
Clean, shape and seal
The canal system is accessed, cleaned, shaped, disinfected and filled. A temporary or permanent seal is placed as appropriate.
Restore and review
The tooth receives a suitable final restoration, which may be a filling, onlay or crown. Follow-up is advised when needed.
Published treatment fees
Root canal treatment fees
Fees vary by tooth type, canal anatomy, infection, remaining tooth structure and whether specialist care is recommended. Fees effective from 19 August 2026.
Front or premolar tooth
$600–$800Retreatment: additional $200.
Molar tooth
$1,000–$1,250Retreatment: additional $200.
Front or premolar tooth
$800–$1,000Retreatment: additional $200–$350.
Molar tooth
$1,250–$1,500Retreatment: additional $200–$350.
Fee note: The ranges above are root canal treatment fees. Consultation, diagnostic imaging, core build-up, post, permanent filling, onlay or crown and other procedures may be charged separately. Please confirm the case-specific estimate and whether GST applies at your clinic before treatment.
Root canal cost at a glance (Teeth Q fees, before GST):
- General dentist: $600–$800 for a front or premolar tooth; $1,000–$1,250 for a molar. Retreatment of a previously treated tooth: additional $200.
- Endodontist (root canal specialist): $800–$1,000 for a front or premolar tooth; $1,250–$1,500 for a molar. Retreatment: additional $200–$350.
- Usually charged separately: consultation and X-rays; a core filling after treatment ($150–$200) or a fibre post and core ($250–$300); and the final crown if one is needed ($900–$1,200 per crown — see our dental crowns and bridges page).
- CHAS, Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation: $217.50 to $594.50 off per tooth depending on tooth type and card (table below), for up to two root canal treatments a calendar year.
- Flexi-MediSave: patients aged 60 and above can use up to $400 a calendar year towards root canal treatment and permanent crowns at CHAS dental clinics, applied after the CHAS subsidy. How Flexi-MediSave works at Teeth Q.
Worked example: a molar root canal treatment with a general dentist at $1,000 for a CHAS Blue cardholder. The CHAS subsidy of $584.50 is deducted first, leaving $415.50. If the patient is aged 60 or above and has the full $400 Flexi-MediSave balance available, the amount left to pay is about $15.50 before GST. Without a CHAS card, the same treatment with Flexi-MediSave comes to about $600. These figures exclude consultation, X-rays, the core filling and any crown; your clinic confirms the exact amount at assessment.
CHAS dental subsidies
Eligible CHAS Orange, CHAS Blue, Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation cardholders may receive subsidies at participating clinics, subject to prevailing claim limits and eligibility.
View current MOH CHAS guidance →Flexi-MediSave for eligible seniors
Patients aged 60 or above may use up to $400 per patient per year under Flexi-MediSave for selected non-surgical dental procedures, including root canal treatment and permanent crowns, subject to prevailing rules and clinic accreditation.
The patient may use their own MediSave or their spouse’s MediSave if the spouse is also aged 60 or above. See how Flexi-MediSave works for dental care at Teeth Q.
View current CPF Board guidance →Root canal treatment — anterior tooth
- CHAS Orange
- Up to $217.50
- CHAS Blue
- Up to $326.00
- Merdeka Generation
- Up to $331.00
- Pioneer Generation
- Up to $336.00
Root canal treatment — premolar tooth
- CHAS Orange
- Up to $308.50
- CHAS Blue
- Up to $462.50
- Merdeka Generation
- Up to $467.50
- Pioneer Generation
- Up to $472.50
Root canal treatment — molar tooth
- CHAS Orange
- Up to $389.50
- CHAS Blue
- Up to $584.50
- Merdeka Generation
- Up to $589.50
- Pioneer Generation
- Up to $594.50
Permanent crown
- CHAS Orange
- Up to $410.00
- CHAS Blue
- Up to $615.00
- Merdeka Generation
- Up to $620.00
- Pioneer Generation
- Up to $625.00
Claim limits: up to two root canal treatments per calendar year, shared across all root canal treatment types; up to four permanent crowns per calendar year. Subsidies are subject to prevailing CHAS rules.
How the schemes apply to your bill: CHAS dental subsidies and MediSave guide · Payment support: what to bring and ask
Specialist care
Meet our root canal specialist
Specialist assessment may be appropriate for complex anatomy, cracked teeth, retreatment, persistent symptoms or root canal surgery.
Root Canal Specialist · Endodontist
Dr Soh Yu Jie
BDS (Singapore) · MDS (Endodontics)
Dr Soh completed postgraduate training in Endodontics at the National University of Singapore. His training focused on dental pain, non-surgical root canal treatment and retreatment, cracked teeth and root canal surgery.
He is a member of the Singapore Dental Association and the Society of Endodontists (Singapore).
Choose your pathway
General assessment or specialist endodontic care
Start with a general dental assessment at any Teeth Q clinic, or use the dedicated specialist booking pathway at Hougang RiverCourt. You can compare both pathways on our root canal care team page.
Available across all six Teeth Q clinics
A dentist can assess your symptoms, arrange appropriate imaging and discuss whether monitoring, restorative treatment, root canal treatment or specialist referral may be suitable.
Book a general assessmentHougang RiverCourt · Kovan
Use the root canal specialist pathway to request an appointment with the endodontist for complex treatment, retreatment, cracked teeth or root canal surgery assessment.
Book the endodontist
After treatment
Recovery and protecting the tooth
Your clinician will provide instructions tailored to the tooth, treatment and restoration.
Common aftercare guidance
- Wait for numbness to wear off before eating
- Avoid hard chewing on the treated tooth until advised
- Brush and floss carefully unless told otherwise
- Protect any temporary filling or crown
- Complete the recommended permanent restoration promptly
- Attend review appointments when advised
You develop severe or increasing pain, visible swelling, fever, an uneven bite, a lost temporary filling or crown, or symptoms return.
Seek urgent medical attention if:Swelling spreads rapidly or you have difficulty swallowing or breathing. For breathing difficulty, go to an emergency department.
Patient questions
Root canal treatment FAQs
Does every toothache need root canal treatment?
No. Tooth pain has several causes. An examination and suitable tests or X-rays are required before confirming whether root canal treatment is appropriate.
Is root canal treatment painful?
Local anaesthesia is commonly used to numb the tooth. You may feel pressure during treatment and temporary tenderness afterwards; tell your clinician if you are uncomfortable.
How many visits will I need?
Some cases can be completed in one visit. Complex anatomy, infection, retreatment or the need for a separate final restoration can require additional appointments.
Will I need a crown after root canal treatment?
It depends on the tooth location, biting load and remaining tooth structure. Your clinician may recommend a filling, onlay or crown to restore and protect the tooth.
How much does root canal treatment cost?
The published treatment fees range from $600–$1,250 with a general dentist and $800–$1,500 with an endodontist, depending on tooth type. Retreatment is an additional $200 with a general dentist and $200–$350 with an endodontist. Consultation, X-rays, the core filling and the final restoration are charged separately; a crown, if needed, is $900–$1,200. See the cost at a glance section above for a worked example with CHAS and Flexi-MediSave.
Does CHAS cover root canal treatment?
Yes, at CHAS dental clinics such as Teeth Q. Since 1 October 2025 the subsidy per root canal treatment is $217.50 (CHAS Orange), $326 (CHAS Blue), $331 (Merdeka Generation) or $336 (Pioneer Generation) for a front tooth; $308.50, $462.50, $467.50 or $472.50 for a premolar; and $389.50, $584.50, $589.50 or $594.50 for a molar, for up to two root canal treatments per calendar year. The subsidy is deducted from your bill at the clinic.
Can MediSave be used for root canal treatment?
Ordinary MediSave cannot be used for non-surgical root canal treatment. Flexi-MediSave can: patients aged 60 and above may use up to $400 per calendar year towards root canal treatment and permanent crowns at CHAS dental clinics, including all Teeth Q clinics. It is applied after any CHAS subsidy, and your spouse’s MediSave can be used if your spouse is also aged 60 or above. The clinic checks your eligibility and prepares the authorisation for you to sign.
What if the tooth cannot be saved?
If the tooth cannot reasonably be restored, extraction may be discussed together with suitable replacement options such as a bridge, denture or dental implant.
Concerned about tooth pain or infection?
Book an assessment so the clinical team can examine the tooth, explain the diagnosis and discuss appropriate options before you decide how to proceed.
Page information updated 4 October 2026. Clinically reviewed by Dr Grace Lau.
