Root canal vs tooth extraction in Ireland
Having a tooth pulled costs less on the day (€150 to €300), but leaving a gap lets neighbouring teeth tilt and drift, and replacing the missing tooth later with a dental implant costs €2,000 to €3,000+ or a bridge €1,500 to €2,500. Saving your natural tooth with a root canal (€390 to €700 to €590 to €1,250) and crown (€800 to €1,200) is almost always the lower-cost ways to keep a full bite.
When a tooth is worth saving with a root canal, and when extraction is the right call.
Free, no obligation. One registered dental clinic in your county replies, not five.
Calculate your root canal and tax relief
Pick the tooth, whether you need a crown on top, and whether you are claiming 20% non-routine dental tax relief on Form Med 2 or using a Medical Card.
Estimated cost guide
€1,112 to €1,960 after 20% relief
Clinic price: €1,390 to €2,450 · Med 2 refund: €278 to €490
Both root canal treatment (endodontics) and dental crowns qualify for 20% non-routine health expenses tax relief on Form Med 2. On €590 to €1,250 for a molar (3 to 4 canals) plus €800 to €1,200 for a crown (€1,390 to €2,450 at the clinic), claiming 20% back in Revenue myAccount brings your net cost to €1,112 to €1,960.
Ask a local clinic for a priceRoot canal + crown vs extraction side by side
| Option | Typical gross cost | After 20% Med 2 relief | What it means for your bite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root canal on a front tooth + filling | €390 to €700 | €312 to €560 | Keeps your own natural tooth root and gum line in 1 to 2 visits |
| Molar root canal + crown | €1,390 to €2,450 | €1,112 to €1,960 | Keeps your natural chewing tooth and jawbone without surgery |
| Extraction only (leaving a gap) | €150 to €300 | No Med 2 relief on routine extraction | Cheapest on the day, but opposing and neighbouring teeth can tip into the gap and jawbone shrinks |
| Extraction + dental implant & crown | €2,200 to €3,300 | €1,760 to €2,640 (implant qualifies for 20%) | 3 to 9 months healing; needed when a root is vertically cracked or unsaveable |
When a dentist will tell you not to do a root canal
A good dentist or endodontist will advise against a root canal and recommend extraction instead if:
- The root has a vertical crack running down below the bone level.
- Decay goes too deep below the gumline for a crown to grip solid, healthy tooth structure (the ferrule effect).
- Advanced gum disease (periodontitis) has already lost too much supporting bone around the tooth.
- It is an unopposed or impacted wisdom tooth that serves no chewing purpose.
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
Does a simple tooth extraction qualify for 20% Med 2 tax relief?
No. Revenue specifically excludes routine tooth extractions, fillings and scaling from Form Med 2 tax relief (only surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth qualifies). Root canals, crowns, bridges and implants all qualify for 20% relief.
How long does a root-treated tooth with a crown last?
Clinical studies show around 85% to 95% of root-filled teeth restored with a well-fitting crown last 10 years or more, and many last decades with normal brushing, flossing and check-ups.
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.