Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp: the nerve and blood supply. Deep decay, a crack or an old large filling can let bacteria reach it, and the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. That is what causes the deep, throbbing toothache. A root canal removes that tissue, cleans and seals the tiny canals inside the root, and leaves you with your own tooth, comfortable and able to chew again.
At The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic, in Kondapur, Hyderabad and in Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam, most root canals are done in one visit of 45 to 90 minutes under local anaesthetic. We keep the tooth isolated with a rubber dam, measure each canal with an electronic apex locator and clean it with rotary instruments. Before anything starts you see the X-ray, hear what we found, and get a written plan with the full price, including the crown. Prices in detail: our root canal cost guide for Kondapur.
What patients tell us when they first come in
- "It started as a twinge with cold water. Now it throbs at night and painkillers barely help."
- "I can't bite on that side any more. It feels like the tooth is taller than the others."
- "There's a small pimple on my gum above the tooth that keeps coming back."
- "Another dentist said root canal. Is it really needed, or would a filling do?"
- "I'm scared of root canals. Everyone says they're the worst."
Why patients choose us for a root canal
- Caring for families in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam since 1997, ISO 9001 certified
- You see the X-ray and hear the reason before any treatment, and we tell you when a filling is enough
- A written plan with the root canal, core and crown priced together, with crown materials side by side
- Rubber dam, electronic apex locator and rotary instruments on every root canal; iTero 3D scan for the crown
- Dr. Varsha Reddy, Dental Surgeon, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics, Facial Orthopedist and Fellow of Implantology (Germany), so if a tooth cannot be saved, the replacement is planned in the same clinic. Kondapur has an all-women team. Visit Smile Dental Clinic Kondapur or Smile Dental Clinic Vizag.
- No pressure: the plan is yours to take home and think over
Get Your General Answers
A root canal is usually the answer when
- A toothache wakes you at night or throbs on its own
- Pain from hot or cold lingers for a minute or more after the drink is gone
- One tooth hurts when you bite or chew
- There is swelling, or a small bump on the gum near a sore tooth
- A tooth has turned darker than its neighbours after a knock
- An X-ray shows infection at the root tip, even if the tooth does not hurt yet
- An old root canal tooth has become sore again and needs re-treatment
Good to know before you book
- Not every toothache needs a root canal. A sharp twinge with cold that fades in a few seconds often means a deep cavity or worn enamel, and a filling is enough. We test the tooth and show you the X-ray before we suggest anything. See tooth-coloured fillings.
- The tooth needs enough strength left to rebuild. If a tooth is cracked down into the root, or very little of it is left above the gum, a root canal cannot hold it together. We tell you plainly when that is the case.
- Sometimes replacing the tooth is the sounder plan. When the gum and bone around a tooth are badly weakened, an implant or bridge can last better. Our guide on root canal or implant: how the decision is made walks through how we decide.
- Back teeth need a crown afterwards. A root-treated molar or premolar is more brittle, so plan for a crown within a few weeks. A front tooth with little damage may only need a filling.
- Swelling may need settling first. If the face is swollen, we may drain and dress the tooth and finish at a second visit.
How a root canal works at Smile Dental
1. Consultation and X-ray (₹500 plus IOPA X-ray ₹200). Dr. Varsha Reddy or the treating dentist checks the tooth, tests how the nerve responds and takes a digital X-ray. You see the X-ray on screen and hear whether it is a filling, a root canal or something else.
2. Written plan. The root canal, core build-up and crown are priced in writing, with the crown materials side by side, before anything starts. If you are in pain, the root canal can often begin the same day.
3. The root canal (45 to 90 minutes). Local anaesthetic first, and we check the area is fully numb. A rubber dam keeps the tooth clean and dry. We open the top of the tooth, remove the pulp, measure each canal with an electronic apex locator, clean and shape it with rotary instruments, disinfect it, and seal it. A front tooth with one canal is quicker than a molar with three or four. If there is active infection, we place medicine inside and finish at a second visit a week or so later.
4. Core build-up. The tooth is rebuilt from inside with a strong core material, the same visit or the next.
5. Crown (1 or 2 visits over 1 to 2 weeks). We prepare the tooth and record it with an iTero 3D scan (no moulds, no radiation) or an impression. You wear a temporary until the crown is fitted and the bite is checked. Crown options: dental crowns in Kondapur and Vizag.
6. Check-up. We look at the tooth and X-ray it at your routine visits to make sure the root has healed.
Hours: Kondapur, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm (2 to 5 pm by appointment). Vizag, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm and 5 to 8:30 pm. Both clinics are closed on Sunday.
During treatment
Once the tooth is numb you feel pressure and some vibration, not sharp pain. For most people it feels much like having a filling, only longer. Raise a hand at any point and we stop. If you are nervous, tell us when you book and we will go slower and explain each step first.
The first two or three days
The tooth may feel tender when you bite, like a bruise. An ordinary painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen is usually enough, if it suits you. Most people go back to work the same day. The numbness wears off in 2 to 3 hours, so wait before eating.
How long it takes
The root canal itself takes 45 to 90 minutes. With the crown, the whole plan usually takes 2 to 3 visits over 1 to 3 weeks.
Until the crown is fitted
Chew on the other side and avoid hard food such as nuts or ice on the treated tooth. Brush and clean between your teeth as normal. Keep the crown appointment: the crown is what lets you chew on the tooth again with confidence.
Call us if
- Pain is getting stronger after three days instead of easing
- Swelling appears or grows
- The temporary filling or temporary crown comes off
- You have a fever
For urgent help, see emergency dental care.
Long term
A root-treated tooth with a good crown is looked after like any other tooth: brushing twice a day, cleaning between teeth and regular check-ups. Because the nerve is gone, the tooth will not warn you with pain, so the X-ray at your check-up does that job.
Root canal treatment prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Consultation | ₹500 |
| Root canal treatment, by tooth | ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 |
| Root canal for most teeth, X-rays included | ₹7,500 |
| Core build-up, by material | ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 |
| Crown, metal | ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 |
| Crown, ceramic or porcelain | ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 |
| Crown, zirconia | ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 |
What moves the price
- Which tooth. A front tooth has one canal. A molar has three or four, takes longer and sits at the upper end.
- A second visit. Active infection may need medicine inside the tooth and a second sitting.
- Re-treatment. Redoing an old root canal means removing the old filling material first, so it costs more.
- The crown material. This is the biggest choice, and it is yours.
Choosing the crown
- Metal (₹5,000 to ₹8,000): the strongest and lowest cost. A sound choice for a back molar nobody sees. It shows as silver or gold.
- Ceramic or porcelain (₹8,000 to ₹15,000): natural colour, good for front teeth. Slightly less strong under very heavy biting.
- Zirconia (₹12,000 to ₹20,000): strong and tooth-coloured. Worth it for a visible tooth or if you grind your teeth.
Your written plan gives the full total, root canal, core and crown, before we start. Same price list at Kondapur and Vizag.
Keeping the tooth or replacing it
| Option | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Root canal, core and crown | Priced in your written plan from the table above | Keeps your own tooth and root |
| Extraction, then an implant | Extraction ₹2,500 to ₹3,000; implant ₹35,000 to ₹88,000 with the crown | For a tooth that cannot be saved. See dental implants |
| Extraction, then a bridge | Extraction ₹2,500 to ₹3,000; bridge ₹12,000 to ₹35,000 | Uses the teeth on each side. See dental bridges |
How long the pain lasts tells us a lot
When cold water makes a tooth sting and the sting is gone within a few seconds, the nerve is usually irritated but healthy, and a filling often settles it. When the ache lingers for a minute or more after the cold is gone, throbs on its own, or wakes you at night, the nerve is usually past recovering, and a root canal is what brings relief.
So before your visit, notice how long the pain lasts after a cold drink and whether it comes on by itself. That one detail, with the X-ray, often tells us whether you need a filling or a root canal. More signs in our post on 5 signs you need a root canal.
Root canal during your India visit
The root canal itself is usually one visit. With a crown, plan for 2 to 3 visits over 1 to 3 weeks. WhatsApp us a recent X-ray or a photo before you fly and we will tell you how many days to keep free. If your trip is short, we can finish the root canal and core here and give you a written note so your dentist abroad can fit the crown. You take home a written record and the X-rays of what was done.
Live outside India? See how to plan your treatment from home →
How much does a root canal cost in Kondapur?
At our Kondapur clinic a root canal costs ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 depending on the tooth, and ₹7,500 including X-rays for most teeth. Core build-up is ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 and a crown ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 by material. Your written plan shows the full total before we start.
How much does a root canal cost in Vizag?
The same price list applies at Smile Dental Clinic Vizag in Maharani Peta: ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 by tooth, with the core build-up and crown separate. The consultation with an X-ray costs ₹500 plus ₹200.
Does a root canal hurt?
The tooth is fully numbed first, so you feel pressure and vibration rather than sharp pain. Most people say it felt much like a filling. The tooth can be tender for two or three days afterwards, and an ordinary painkiller usually handles it.
Can a root canal be done in one visit?
Usually yes. Most root canals take one visit of 45 to 90 minutes. If there is active infection or swelling, we place medicine inside the tooth and finish at a second visit about a week later.
How do I know if I need a root canal or just a filling?
Pain that fades within seconds after something cold usually means a filling will do. Pain that lingers, throbs on its own or wakes you at night usually means the nerve needs a root canal. We test the tooth and show you the X-ray before suggesting either.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
For a back tooth, yes. A root-treated molar or premolar is more brittle and a crown lets you chew on it with confidence. A front tooth with little damage can sometimes be finished with a filling instead. We tell you which applies to your tooth.
Is it better to remove the tooth instead?
If the tooth can be saved, keeping it with a root canal and crown is usually simpler and lower in cost than an extraction followed by an implant (₹35,000 to ₹88,000 with the crown) or a bridge (₹12,000 to ₹35,000). If the tooth is cracked into the root or the bone around it is weak, we will say so and talk you through replacing it.
Who does root canals at your clinics, and where?
Root canals are done by the team at The Smile Super Speciality Dental Clinic, with Dr. Varsha Reddy, Dental Surgeon, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Y, MDS Orthodontics, Facial Orthopedist and Fellow of Implantology (Germany), who plans cases where a tooth may need replacing. Visit Smile Dental Clinic Kondapur on Masjid Banda Road, Hyderabad, or Smile Dental Clinic Vizag at SLN Towers, Maharani Peta, Visakhapatnam.
