Dental Services

Root Canals

Feeling nervous about getting a root canal? No need to worry. Millions of teeth are saved each year with root canal treatment.

Root canals are life-changing. They help dentists and endodontists to save millions of teeth from being extracted, every year. The goal of a root canal, also known as endodontic treatment, is to save a tooth that has been badly damaged from decay, disease or injury.

With root canal treatment, patients are able to keep their own teeth rather than having them removed. Your own teeth are better than artificial teeth. They’re stronger and better for biting and chewing. Our dentists and specialists are experts at providing the best root canal treatment for you.

What is it?

Inside every tooth there is a fine canals known as root canals. These contain the dental pulp, which consists of nerves and blood vessels. If the dental pulp dies or is diseased, people experience toothache or an abscess occurs. Root canal treatment is carried out to save the tooth.

There can be a number of reasons for pulp becoming diseased:

  • Decay
  • Trauma
  • Deep cavities
  • Extreme wear
  • Tooth fracture or a crack in the tooth

To improve the chances of success, root canal treatment should start as soon as possible after a problem is identified. For root canal treatment, an access is drilled through the top of the tooth to access the root canal. The infected pulp is then removed and the empty canal is disinfected. The canal is then shaped with fine dental files, washed with a sterilising solution and sealed with a final filling. This treatment can take several visits to complete. If there's an infection present, antibiotics are sometimes prescribed.

The final restoration of the tooth is very important. If the tooth isn't properly restored, bacteria can enter again and cause another infection. Sometimes a crown is recommended to strengthen and seal the tooth properly. Root canal treatment is carried out by a dentist, or sometimes by an endodontic specialist, depending on the complexity.

Learn about Endodontics (specialist root canal treatment)
Root Canals

Need to know

Appointments

  • Root canals will usually take several visits to complete
  • At the first consultation visit the dentist will take x-rays and examine your teeth and mouth
  • They will then save the tooth by removing the infected pulp
  • At the next visit the dentist will complete the final restoration or fitting of a crown
  • Further appointments may be needed if you have any problems or issues

How long it takes

  • The consultation will usually take around 30 to 45 minutes
  • The root canal procedure is often done in 1 to 2 appointments that usually take around 90 minutes each
  • The fitting of a crown will usually take around 30 minutes

You may be asked about

  • Your dental history and medical history
  • The pain and symptoms you are experiencing

Before your appointment

  • No special preparation needed

After your appointment

  • You can continue to brush your teeth as normal
  • Avoid eating chewy or hard foods for the first few days
  • Take care when flossing daily
  • Reduce the amount of sugary food and drink you consume

Quick tip

The more you rest and take care of your oral health after treatment the faster you will recover.

Have questions?

Root canals often require several visits to complete. The price will vary depending on the condition of your tooth and how many visits you will need to complete the treatment. Once you’ve been examined by the dentist they will be able to give you an approximate cost for the treatment.

Taking good care of your oral health will help avoid any future problems from occurring. Brushing twice daily and flossing daily are easy ways you can prevent decay. Regular visits to the dentist will not only prevent the need for root canals, it will also help discover any problems in your teeth before they become too big.

Our dentists are experts and making you feel comfortable while taking care of your oral health is a high priority. There’s no need to feel anxious or stressed. Root canals are performed to stop the pain people experience from the infection and to save the damaged tooth. Dentists will normally use a local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and the area around it to make it more comfortable for patients. Once the procedure is completed you may feel some sensitivity and discomfort but this will fade over a couple of days.

We are here to help. If you are worried about having dental treatment we recommend talking to your dentist about your concerns.

Like all dental and medical treatments, root canal treatment has risks. Because the root canals are very fine and curved in some teeth, it may be difficult to clean the canals completely. In that case your dentist might not be able to guarantee that the procedure will be successful. Success can depend on your general health, age, capacity to heal, and many other factors.

The final restoration of the tooth is also important to prevent another infection from occurring. Infection in your damaged tooth is likely to heal completely once you’ve had root canal treatment. The risks of reinfection are low, but if infection recurs the tooth may have to be treated again, and sometimes removed.

In some people, the treated tooth may lose its original colour and become darker. If a front tooth is affected the discolouration can be treated by bleaching, or an artificial crown or veneer can be fitted. Pain or infection can sometimes occur months or years after a tooth has been treated. This is usually due to further deep decay, trauma or a cracked filling which allows bacteria to enter the tooth and cause infection. More endodontic treatment may be needed to save the tooth.

Pain is the most common symptom people experience when they need root canal treatment. You might also feel sensitivity to hot or cold, tooth discolouration, and swelling or soreness in the gums surrounding the tooth. Only your dentist or specialist will be able to tell if you need a root canal, so if you have any pain or sensitivity of your teeth you should visit a dentist as soon as you can.

Make sure you select emergency when you book online, or simply call us for an urgent appointment.