Root Canal Cost in Pakistan
Medically reviewed byDr. Saad Irfan— MDS, MSc, BDS·
Root canal treatment removes infected or dying pulp from inside a tooth, disinfects the canal system and seals it, so a tooth that would otherwise need extracting can be kept. Across Pakistan it runs roughly PKR 15,000 to 45,000 per tooth.
The variable that matters most is which tooth. A front incisor has one canal and is usually straightforward. A lower molar can have four, sometimes curved and sometimes partially calcified, and finding all of them is the difference between a treatment that lasts twenty years and one that fails in three.
One thing to establish before comparing quotes: almost every root-treated back tooth needs a crown afterwards, and that crown is a separate cost. A quote that looks unusually low may simply be a quote for half the job.
Root Canal Treatment Prices Across Pakistan — 2026
Canal count is the main driver. More canals means more time, more instrumentation and considerably more skill in locating them all.
| Type | Market range (PKR) |
|---|---|
Front tooth (incisor or canine, single canal) Usually one canal, straight and accessible. Often completed in a single appointment. | 15,000 – 25,000 |
Premolar (typically two canals) Two canals in most cases, occasionally three. | 20,000 – 32,000 |
Molar (three to four canals) The most demanding routine endodontic work. Missed canals are the leading cause of later failure. | 28,000 – 45,000 |
Retreatment of a failed root canal Removing existing filling material before the canal can be re-cleaned. Longer, harder, and lower success rate than a first attempt. | 35,000 – 60,000 |
Overall market range: PKR 15,000 – 60,000 per tooth. These are prices observed across dental practices in Pakistan, published so you can set a realistic budget and judge whether a quote you have been given is reasonable. They are not Dr Saad Dentistry’s prices — see how our pricing works.
What Makes the Price Go Up or Down
How many canals the tooth has
The primary driver. A four-canal molar is several times the work of a single-canal incisor.
Canal anatomy
Curved, calcified or previously treated canals take far longer to negotiate safely and sometimes need specialist instrumentation.
First treatment or retreatment
Retreatment means dismantling previous work before the real treatment can begin, and success rates are lower.
Whether magnification is used
A dental operating microscope makes it possible to find canals that are genuinely invisible without one. It raises cost and materially raises success rates.
Whether a post and core is needed
Where little tooth structure remains, a foundation has to be built before a crown can be placed. Separate cost.
What Should Be Included in the Price
Use this as a checklist when comparing quotes. A figure that excludes half of the list below is not cheaper — it is incomplete.
- Diagnostic radiographs before, during and after treatment
- Local anaesthesia
- Access, canal location, cleaning and shaping
- Disinfection of the canal system
- Gutta-percha obturation to seal the canals
- A temporary seal until the permanent restoration is placed
Additional Costs to Budget For
These sit outside the headline figure and are the usual reason a final bill exceeds expectations. Not all of them will apply to you.
The crown afterwards
Essential on almost every root-treated back tooth. A root-treated tooth is brittle and will eventually split under load without cuspal coverage. This is the single biggest cost people fail to budget for.
Post and core
Where too little natural structure remains to retain a crown.
Permanent filling
Where a crown is not indicated — usually a front tooth with most of its structure intact.
Drainage or antibiotics for acute infection
Where the tooth presents with a swelling that needs managing before treatment can start.
How Prices Compare Across Pakistani Cities
| Karachi | Widest range. Microscope-assisted endodontics is available and priced accordingly. |
| Lahore | Broadly comparable to Karachi. |
| Islamabad | Slightly above the Karachi and Lahore range. |
| Smaller cities | Lower prices, but magnification and specialist endodontic referral are less commonly available. |
Why the Cheapest Option Often Costs More
Root canal treatment either works or it does not, and you usually will not know which for two or three years.
The most common reason for failure is a canal that was never found. Lower molars frequently have a fourth canal that is invisible to the naked eye. If it is missed, bacteria remain sealed inside the tooth, and the infection re-establishes itself slowly under a crown that looks perfectly healthy.
The second common shortcut is inadequate disinfection — rushing the irrigation stage, which is where the actual sterilisation happens rather than in the mechanical filing.
When a root canal fails you are looking at retreatment, which costs more and succeeds less often, or extraction and an implant, which costs several times the original treatment. Ask whether magnification is used and how many canals were found and filled. Any competent practice will show you the final radiograph.
Payment Plans and Instalments
Longer courses of treatment are commonly paid in stages across the treatment period rather than up front, with each payment tied to an appointment milestone. Most established Karachi practices will structure this if you ask; it is a normal request and it should not change the treatment you are offered.
How We Quote at Dr Saad Dentistry
Everything above is the Pakistani market. For your own case we quote after an examination rather than before it, because the figures on this page move substantially depending on findings we cannot assess without looking — bone condition, canal anatomy, how much sound tooth structure is actually left.
A consultation is PKR 2,000, the same at all three clinics. It covers a full examination, the diagnostic X-rays needed on the day, and a written treatment plan with every item priced separately. You are under no obligation to proceed with any of it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a root canal cost in Pakistan?
Roughly PKR 15,000 to 25,000 for a front tooth, PKR 20,000 to 32,000 for a premolar, and PKR 28,000 to 45,000 for a molar. Retreatment of a failed root canal runs higher.
Why does a molar cost so much more than a front tooth?
Canal count. A front tooth typically has one canal; a molar can have four, often curved and sometimes calcified. It is several times the chair time and considerably more difficult.
Is the crown included in the price?
Almost never, and this is the most important question to ask. Most root-treated back teeth need a crown, and it is often comparable in cost to the root canal itself.
Does a root canal hurt?
The treatment relieves pain rather than causing it. Under proper anaesthesia most patients feel nothing during it. The tooth is usually tender for a few days afterwards.
How many visits does it take?
One or two in most cases. Teeth with active infection are sometimes dressed and left for a week between appointments to let the infection settle.
Is extraction cheaper than a root canal?
On the day, yes. But replacing the extracted tooth with an implant or bridge costs several times more than saving it, so extraction is usually the more expensive route within a few years.
How long does a root-treated tooth last?
Properly treated and properly crowned, often for life. The usual reason for later loss is a fracture in an uncrowned tooth, or decay at the margin of the restoration.
What does 'retreatment' mean?
Redoing a root canal that has failed. The old filling material has to be removed before the canals can be re-cleaned, which makes it longer, harder and less predictable than a first attempt.
Why is a microscope worth paying for?
Because it makes canals visible that genuinely cannot be seen otherwise. Missed canals are the leading cause of root canal failure, so magnification directly affects whether the treatment lasts.
Can a general dentist do a root canal?
Many do, competently, particularly on front teeth and premolars. Complex molars, curved canals and retreatments are where endodontic specialisation and magnification start to matter.
What happens if I delay treatment?
Infection spreads into the surrounding bone. It can progress to a facial swelling requiring urgent care, and eventually the tooth becomes unsaveable — turning a treatable problem into an extraction.
Will the tooth look different afterwards?
Root-treated front teeth can darken over time. Internal bleaching or a crown corrects this, and it is worth discussing before treatment if the tooth is visible.
Understanding the Treatment
How root canal treatment worksThe procedure, what to expect and recoveryWhere to Get Treatment
Other Cost Guides
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified dentist for diagnosis and treatment specific to your condition. Results may vary depending on individual cases. Dr. Saad Irfan Dentistry, Karachi.