Root Canal glossary of terms & specifications
15 technical terms, material grades and Irish standards explained in plain English so you know exactly what is on a written quote.
Sorted A to Z for quick reference when comparing specifications.
Free, no obligation. One registered dental clinic in your county replies, not five.
Key root canal terms explained
Apex Locator (Electronic Working Length)
A digital micro-sensor clipped to a fine endodontic file that measures the exact millimetre tip of the root canal with higher precision than X-rays alone.
Apicectomy (Root-End Microsurgery)
A minor microsurgical procedure under local anaesthetic that cleans and seals the very tip of a root through the gum when an infection persists above an existing crown or post.
Bioceramic Root Canal Sealer
Modern calcium-silicate biocompatible cement that bonds chemically to dentine and seals microscopic side canals permanently.
CBCT 3D Cone-Beam Scan
A high-resolution 3D dental scan (€120–€200) used by endodontists to spot hidden fourth canals (MB2), curved roots, resorptions or hairline cracks before molar treatment.
Dental Operating Microscope (DOM)
A 10× to 25× coaxial-illuminated surgical microscope used by specialist endodontists to see deep inside narrow, calcified molar canals and remove broken instruments.
Endodontist (Specialist Root Canal Dentist)
A dentist who has completed 2 to 3 years of full-time postgraduate specialist hospital training exclusively in diagnosing tooth pain and performing microscope root canal treatment.
Fibre Post & Composite Core Build-Up
A translucent glass-fibre post bonded into a root-treated canal to anchor a composite core when too little natural tooth wall remains to hold a crown.
Form Med 2 (20% Revenue Tax Relief)
The official Irish Revenue certificate signed by your dentist for non-routine treatment (both root canal treatment and a dental crown qualify for a 20% income tax refund).
Gutta-Percha Obturation
A natural, inert thermoplastic rubber material warmed and compacted with bioceramic sealer to fill the cleaned root canal space completely from tip to crown.
MB2 Canal (Second Mesiobuccal Canal)
A tiny fourth root canal present in over 70% of upper first molars — finding and cleaning the MB2 under magnification is the single biggest factor in long-term molar root canal success.
Periapical Abscess / Granuloma
A pocket of inflammation or infection in the jawbone at the tip of a dead tooth root that shows as a dark shadow on a dental X-ray and heals once the canal is disinfected.
Pulpitis (Irreversible vs Reversible)
Inflammation of the living nerve inside a tooth; irreversible pulpitis causes lingering throbbing pain to hot drinks or waking pain at night and is cured by root canal treatment.
Root Canal Re-Treatment
Re-opening a previously root-filled tooth, dissolving the old gutta-percha, disinfecting missed or re-infected canals under a microscope, and sealing the root afresh.
Rotary Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) Files
Super-flexible motor-driven instruments that follow curved root canals smoothly without straightening or weakening the root wall.
Rubber Dam Isolation
A small waterproof latex-free sheet clipped around the tooth being treated so saliva and bacteria cannot enter the canal and disinfecting rinses never touch your mouth.
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
How much does a root canal cost in Ireland?
A front tooth (incisor or canine) costs €390 to €700, a premolar €490 to €800, and a molar €590 to €1,250 (€900 to €1,250 with a specialist endodontist). If the tooth needs a crown afterwards, that adds €800 to €1,200. Both the root canal and the crown qualify for 20% tax relief on Form Med 2.
Can I claim 20% tax relief on a root canal and crown?
Yes. Root canal treatment (endodontics) and crowns are both listed by Revenue as qualifying non-routine dental treatments. Your dentist signs Form Med 2 when you pay, and you claim 20% back through Revenue myAccount under Health Expenses.
Does PRSI cover root canal treatment?
No. The Department of Social Protection's PRSI Treatment Benefit scheme covers an annual dental exam and €50 towards a scale and polish (or €42 towards periodontal treatment). It does not cover root canals, crowns or extractions.
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.
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