Does a root canal actually hurt?
No — a root canal relieves toothache rather than causing it. Once the tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, you should feel no sharp pain during the appointment. After the anaesthetic wears off, the ligament around the root tip can feel bruised when you bite for 2 to 3 days, which settles with ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Why root canals have an outdated reputation, what happens in the chair step by step, and what normal recovery feels like.
Free, no obligation. One registered dental clinic in your county replies, not five.
What you feel in the chair and why
The severe, throbbing pain people associate with a root canal is the infected or dying nerve before treatment, not the procedure itself. Before touching the tooth, the dentist numbs the nerve completely with local anaesthetic. If the nerve is ”hot” (acutely inflamed pulpitis), they use targeted nerve blocks and supplemental ligament anaesthetic before starting, and will stop immediately to add more if you feel any pinch.
What happens during a root canal appointment
- X-ray and numbing. A small digital X-ray shows the shape and length of the roots, and the tooth and gum are numbed.
- Rubber dam. A small waterproof sheet fits around the tooth to keep saliva out and stop disinfecting rinse touching your mouth.
- Cleaning the canals. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth. Fine, flexible instruments remove the inflamed nerve tissue and shape the canals while antibacterial solution flushes them clean.
- Sealing with gutta-percha. Once dry and comfortable, the canals are filled with a biocompatible rubber material called gutta-percha and sealed with a core filling.
The first 72 hours after your appointment
- Wait until the numbness wears off before eating or drinking anything hot so you do not bite your cheek or tongue.
- Take your usual anti-inflammatory painkiller (such as ibuprofen, if suitable for you) or paracetamol before the anaesthetic wears off completely.
- Chew on the other side of your mouth until the permanent filling or crown is fitted, so the treated tooth does not chip.
- Ring the clinic if you develop visible facial swelling, a fever, or pain that gets worse rather than better after day 3.
What root canal treatment costs in Ireland
Our price guide by tooth, with and without a crown, and what 20% Form Med 2 tax relief takes off.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth (incisor or canine), 1 canal | €390 to €700 | After 20% tax relief: €312 to €560. General dentist or specialist |
| Premolar, 1 to 2 canals | €490 to €800 | After 20% tax relief: €392 to €640. Whether it has one canal or two |
| Molar, 3 to 4 canals | €590 to €1,250 | After 20% tax relief: €472 to €1,000. Specialist with microscope: €900 to €1,250 |
| Root canal re-treatment | €690 to €1,500 | After 20% tax relief: €552 to €1,200. Removing old filling or post |
| Dental crown (zirconia or porcelain) | €800 to €1,200 | After 20% tax relief: €640 to €960. Strongly advised on back chewing teeth |
| Molar root canal + crown, all in | €1,390 to €2,450 | After 20% tax relief: €1,112 to €1,960 |
| Post and core build-up (if needed) | €150 to €300 | Used when too little natural tooth wall remains to hold a crown |
| Consultation and X-ray | €60 to €150 | 3D CBCT scan for complex roots: €120 to €200 |
Get a root canal price from one local clinic
Tap the tooth, where things stand and your county. Your enquiry goes to one Dental Council-registered dental clinic covering your county, and they contact you to arrange an X-ray and a written treatment plan.
Questions patients ask
Can I go back to work or drive after a root canal?
Yes. Because a standard root canal uses local anaesthetic in the gum (not sedation), you can drive yourself home and return to work the same day, though your lip and cheek will stay numb for 2 to 4 hours.
Why is my tooth still tender to bite on two days after a root canal?
While the nerve inside the tooth is gone, the tiny shock-absorbing ligament around the outside of the root in the jawbone has nerve endings and takes 2 to 5 days to calm down after inflammation and cleaning.
Need a price or an appointment for a root canal?
One Dental Council-registered clinic covering your county contacts you. Nothing is booked until you have a written treatment plan.