Treatments
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is carried out when the tissue inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels (the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected. The aim is to resolve the infection and keep the natural tooth.
What is it?
Deep decay, fractures, repeated procedures or trauma can damage the pulp. Signs may include lingering sensitivity to hot and cold, spontaneous pain, discomfort when chewing or swelling of the gum; sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
During treatment, the inflamed tissue is removed from the root canals; the canals are cleaned, shaped, disinfected and filled with a suitable material. The crown of the tooth is then protected with a filling or, where necessary, a crown.
A root-treated tooth can continue to function for chewing. This helps avoid the effects that the gap left by an extraction can have on the neighbouring teeth and the bite.
The process
Examination and X-ray
The tooth is assessed with a clinical examination and an X-ray to decide whether root canal treatment is needed.
Local anaesthesia
The area to be treated is numbed with local anaesthesia.
Cleaning and shaping the canals
The pulp tissue is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, shaped and disinfected.
Filling the canals
The cleaned canals are filled with a suitable material to reduce the risk of reinfection.
Restoring the tooth
The tooth is restored with a filling; if a lot of tooth structure has been lost, a crown may be recommended to protect it.
Who is it for?
- People with lingering sensitivity to hot and cold
- People with toothache that starts on its own or gets worse at night
- People with a tooth whose pulp is affected by deep decay or a fracture
- People with swelling or an abscess in the gum
- People with a previously root-treated tooth that needs retreatment
Frequently asked questions
How many appointments does root canal treatment take?
Depending on the tooth, the number of canals and whether there is infection, it can be completed in one or several appointments. This is planned at the examination.
Will I feel pain during treatment?
Treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia, and care is taken to keep you comfortable. If you feel any discomfort, you can tell your dentist at any time.
Will the tooth be sensitive afterwards?
Mild tenderness when chewing may occur for a few days and usually settles on its own. Your dentist may recommend a painkiller if needed. If symptoms get worse, please contact the clinic.
Could the tooth simply be extracted instead?
Extraction may be an option, but the gap can cause neighbouring teeth to drift and lead to chewing problems, and may later require an implant or bridge. Where possible, keeping the natural tooth is usually preferred.
How long does a root-treated tooth last?
It depends on how much of the tooth remains, the restoration placed on it and oral care. Regular check-ups and good oral hygiene help the tooth to serve for a long time.
Appointments
Book an examination
The right treatment for you is planned after an examination and any necessary tests, weighing the options together.
Treatments
Other treatments
- Smile DesignAesthetic treatments planned as a whole, around your facial features and teeth.
- Dental ImplantsA fixed replacement for missing teeth, close to natural teeth in function and appearance.
- Zirconia and VeneersZirconia crowns and porcelain veneers that restore the shape, colour and function of teeth.
- Dental BondingSmall gaps, chips and shape irregularities corrected with tooth-coloured composite.
- Dentures and BridgesReplacing missing or badly worn teeth with fixed or removable prosthetics.
- General DentistryKeeping your mouth healthy with check-ups, scaling, fillings and preventive care.