Root Canal Treatment Under EHS: Process, Sittings and What to Expect
If you’re a Telangana government employee, pensioner or dependent, you may be able to get root canal treatment under the Employees Health Scheme. But the scheme changed on 17 July 2026, when the New Employees Health Scheme (NEHS) replaced the old EHS. Before treatment, confirm the hospital’s current empanelment and what your root canal and crown will cost you. The treatment itself usually takes one to three sittings.
If you’ve had a root canal under EHS before, the process you remember may not be the process today. The new scheme has new rules, new health cards and a different structure for outpatient care, and many patients, and even some clinics, are still catching up.
We’d rather tell you clearly what has changed and what to check than promise “fully covered” and leave you with a surprise bill. This guide covers both sides: how the scheme side works now, and what the root canal itself involves, sitting by sitting.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Scheme rules, empanelment and coverage are decided by the Employees Health Care Trust (EHCT) and may change. Please confirm your eligibility and coverage with the hospital and the official NEHS portal before treatment. Whether you need a root canal can only be decided after a dental examination.
What Changed: EHS to NEHS in 2026
Here’s what you need to know in brief:
- New scheme: The New Employees Health Scheme (NEHS) began on 17 July 2026, replacing the earlier EHS.
- New administrator: It’s run by the Employees Health Care Trust (EHCT), funded by employee and pensioner contributions matched by the government.
- New rates: Inpatient and day-care packages follow CGHS package rates.
- New health cards: Digital health cards are issued through the NEHS portal and app. Until your card is issued, you can be treated using your Employee or Pensioner ID.
- Outpatient care: The official guidelines say outpatient treatment, including dental consultation, is “ordinarily” provided through Wellness Centres.
Why this matters for a root canal: A root canal is an outpatient procedure; you don’t need to be admitted. That means how it’s covered, and where, depends on the outpatient rules, which are still being clarified in practice. That’s exactly why checking first is so important.
Before You Book: 5 Things to Check
Ask these questions before your first sitting, whether you call us or any other hospital:
- Is the hospital currently empanelled under NEHS for dental treatment?
Empanelment under the old EHS doesn’t automatically carry over. Ask about NEHS specifically.
- Will my root canal be cashless, or will I pay and claim?
Ask exactly which parts are covered and which you’ll pay for at the counter.
- Is the crown (cap) covered?
Back teeth almost always need a crown after a root canal. Crown coverage can differ from root canal coverage, so ask separately.
- What will I pay if something isn’t covered?
Get a written estimate for any portion you’ll pay yourself, including X-rays, core build-up and the crown material.
- Do I need a Wellness Centre referral first?
Because outpatient dental care is routed through Wellness Centres, ask whether a referral is needed in your case.
If the Hospital You Prefer Isn't Covered
During the NEHS transition, your preferred dental hospital may not yet be empanelled, or your root canal may fall outside cashless cover. You still have options:
- Visit an NEHS Wellness Centre for a dental consultation and ask about referral
- Use a government dental facility that participates in the scheme
- Choose private treatment with a clear written estimate, if timing or convenience matters more to you
There’s no wrong choice here. What matters is that you know the cost before treatment begins, not after.
What to Bring on Your First Visit
- Your NEHS digital health card (on your phone or printed), or your Employee/Pensioner ID if your card isn’t issued yet
- Aadhaar card for identity verification
- For dependents: proof of relationship as registered under the scheme
- Any Wellness Centre referral, if one was given
- Previous dental X-rays or treatment records for the same tooth, if you have them
- A list of current medicines, especially blood thinners or diabetes medication
Arriving with these saves time and avoids an extra trip just for paperwork.
The Root Canal Itself: Sitting by Sitting
The clinical treatment is the same whether you’re an EHS beneficiary or not. Most root canals take one to three sittings, depending on the tooth and the infection.
Sitting 1: Diagnosis and cleaning
- Examination and X-ray to confirm the tooth needs a root canal and can be saved
- Local anaesthesia, so the area is numb
- The infected pulp is removed and the canals are cleaned and shaped
- In simple cases, the canals may be sealed in the same sitting. If there’s active infection or swelling, medicine is placed inside the tooth with a temporary filling.
Sitting 2: Disinfection and sealing
- The temporary filling is removed and the canals are checked
- The canals are filled and sealed permanently
- Some molars with complex canals may need a third sitting
Final sitting: Core and crown
- The tooth is rebuilt (core build-up) and prepared for a crown
- A measurement or scan is taken, and the crown is fitted at a later visit
Our view on sittings: the number of sittings should depend on your tooth, not on paperwork or convenience. If your tooth is infected or swollen, a multi-sitting root canal is often the safer choice.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
Clinically, a root canal and crown typically take one to three weeks from start to finish. Under a health scheme, you may need to allow some extra time for verification or approval steps, especially while NEHS processes are still settling.
One important caution: don’t delay treatment of a painful or swollen tooth just because paperwork is pending. Infection can spread, turn a simple root canal into a complex one, or cost you the tooth entirely. If you’re in severe pain, see our guide to dental emergencies and get seen promptly. You can sort out the scheme details alongside.
What Might Not Be Covered
Health scheme coverage is based on approved packages and rates. Depending on how your treatment is processed, you may need to pay for:
- Crown upgrades, such as zirconia instead of a standard crown
- Items outside the approved package
- OPD consultations or X-rays, if billed separately
Knowing this upfront is far better than discovering it at the end. For a sense of private costs, see our root canal treatment cost in Hyderabad guide.
Is a Root Canal the Right Choice?
Under any scheme, the clinical decision comes first. A root canal saves your natural tooth, which is usually better long-term than extraction. But if the tooth is badly broken or the bone around it is weak, extraction may be the wiser option. Our guide on root canal vs extraction explains how dentists decide.
After Your Root Canal
- Mild soreness for a few days is normal. Our guide on pain after root canal treatment explains what’s expected and what isn’t.
- Avoid chewing hard food on the tooth until the crown is fitted
- Don’t skip the crown appointment. An uncrowned back tooth is at real risk of cracking.
Root Canal Treatment for EHS Beneficiaries at KDH
At Krishna Dental Hospitals, we’ll examine your tooth, confirm whether a root canal is needed, and explain clearly what applies to you under the current scheme before treatment begins. Learn more about root canal treatment in Hyderabad and our EHS dental treatment at our branches in Kondapur, Kukatpally, Kompally and A.S. Rao Nagar.
Have your health card ready and a tooth that needs attention? Book your free consultation or call +91 88868 45454 to check your eligibility first.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your treating dentist. Recovery varies from person to person depending on the tooth treated, the infection present before treatment and your overall health. If you are unsure about any symptom after treatment, contact your dentist. For severe facial swelling, fever or difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek urgent medical care.
Author BIO
Dr. Naresh Krishna Reddy is an MDS Endodontist and the Chairman & Managing Director of Krishna Dental Hospitals, Hyderabad. As a root canal specialist, he focuses on saving natural teeth and guiding patients through comfortable recovery after treatment. He leads KDH’s team of 25 dentists across the A.S. Rao Nagar, Kukatpally, Kondapur and Kompally branches, where the hospital has completed over 5,000 root canal treatments.