Specialist care
Root canal treatment in Putney
Saving a tooth whose nerve has died or become infected. Dr Ahmed Ali carries out every root canal treatment under a dental microscope, including the difficult cases, and accepts referrals from other dentists.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ahmed Ali, BDS, GDC 300421
Last reviewed 27 September 2026
Root canal treatment at Ethicare, in brief
How much does root canal treatment cost?
Root canal treatment with Dr Ahmed Ali starts from £850. The fee depends on the tooth and the number of canals. A crown afterwards, if the tooth needs one, starts from £900.
Who does the treatment?
Dr Ahmed Ali, who holds an MSc in clinical endodontics and the MEndo from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and works under a dental microscope on every case.
Can I pay monthly?
Denplan members get 10% off private treatment. Ask us at your assessment about ways to spread the cost.
How long does it take?
Routine treatment is usually completed in one visit of up to an hour and a half. Re-treating a tooth that has been root treated before can take one to three visits.
Keep the tooth. Lose the pain.
Inside every tooth is the pulp: nerves and blood vessels in a chamber and canals running down the roots. Deep decay, a leaking filling, a crack or a knock can inflame it until it dies, and bacteria then spread to the tip of the root and into the bone, forming an abscess. Without treatment the tooth is usually lost.
Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp, cleans and shapes the canals and seals them. Dr Ahmed uses a microscope, rotary instruments and warm obturation on every case, which is what makes the difference on teeth other dentists would consider difficult. The tooth is isolated with a rubber dam so the work stays clean and safe. Most patients say it was nothing like they feared, and the relief when the pain goes is immediate.
- Every case under a dental microscope
- Usually one visit
- Referrals accepted from other dentists
- The alternative, extraction, explained honestly
“When I first visited his practice… as a nervous patient, I found dental visits quite daunting. Glafcos has been a fantastic professional—calm, reassuring, and incredibly skilled.”
Your root canal treatment, step by step
- 01AssessmentThe tooth is examined and X-rayed to confirm the diagnosis and see the shape of the roots.
- 02Numbing and isolatingLocal anaesthetic, then a rubber dam around the tooth to keep saliva out and the work clean.
- 03Cleaning the canalsThe infected pulp is removed under the microscope, the canals are measured, cleaned and shaped.
- 04SealingThe canals are filled with warm gutta percha to seal them, and the tooth is restored with a filling.
- 05Crown, if neededA back tooth that has lost a lot of structure usually needs a crown to protect it from cracking.
Is root canal treatment the right choice?
The alternative to root canal treatment is to take the tooth out, and then decide whether and how to replace it. Doing nothing is also an option, with risks we will explain. A tooth that has been root treated before and has flared up again can often be re-treated, or treated surgically by removing the tip of the root.
Root canal questions
Something else? Call us on 020 8870 5059 or send a WhatsApp message.
Is root canal treatment painful?
No. The tooth is fully numbed for the procedure, and most patients find it nowhere near as bad as they expected, with enormous relief once the pain from the infection has gone. A very inflamed tooth can occasionally stay sensitive despite anaesthetic; in that case a sedative dressing calms the nerve and the treatment is completed at a second, pain-free visit.
What is the success rate of root canal treatment?
Studies quote 90 to 95%. Teeth that do not respond can often be re-treated or treated surgically.
How many visits does root canal treatment involve?
Routine treatment is usually completed in one visit of up to an hour and a half. Re-treating a tooth that has been root treated before takes between one and three visits.
What are the alternatives to root canal treatment?
Extraction, if the tooth is causing pain, and then deciding whether to replace it. Or no treatment, with the risks explained. We will always tell you which we would choose for our own tooth.
Will the tooth need a crown afterwards?
It depends how much tooth is left. Back teeth that have lost a lot of structure usually need a crown to protect them from fracture. Dr Ahmed will advise you.
How much does root canal treatment cost at Ethicare?
Root canal treatment with Dr Ahmed Ali starts from £850. The fee depends on the tooth and the number of canals, and you have a written quote after your assessment.
