Root canal treatment explained
Saving the tooth, comfortably.
Root canal treatment removes infection from inside a tooth so the tooth itself can stay. Its reputation comes from an era before modern anaesthesia and magnification — today it should feel much like having a filling, only longer.
Root canal treatment with Dr Sundeep Solanki, GDC 212282 — 2 London Road, Twickenham, London TW1 3RY.
Who it suits
When root canal treatment is the right answer
If something simpler or less expensive would serve you better, that is what we will recommend at the consultation — and we will show you the fees for both.
- Lingering pain to hot or cold
- A tooth that aches when you bite
- Swelling or an abscess
- A deep cavity close to the nerve
- A tooth that has darkened after trauma
- A previously root-treated tooth causing trouble again
How treatment works
Step by step, no surprises
Diagnosis
Tests and radiographs to confirm the tooth and whether treatment is likely to work — sometimes extraction and an implant is the more honest recommendation.
Treatment
Fully numb, isolated with a rubber dam, the canals cleaned and shaped under magnification. Usually one or two visits.
Restore
Root-treated back teeth are brittle, so they are normally protected with a crown or onlay afterwards. That step is part of the plan and the quoted cost.
From the journal
Read before you decide
If the appointment itself is the worry, here is exactly how it is handled.
Common questions
Root canal treatment, answered honestly
Does root canal treatment hurt?
The treatment itself should not — you are fully numb throughout. What hurts is the infection beforehand, and treatment is what stops it.
How long does the tooth last afterwards?
Many years, often decades, provided it is properly restored afterwards and kept clean. Skipping the crown is the most common reason these teeth later fail.
Should I just have it out?
Sometimes that is the better answer, particularly where the tooth is badly broken. We will lay out the cost and outcome of both routes before you decide.
Before you decide
Risks and alternatives
Like any dental treatment, root canal treatment carries risks, and whether it suits you depends on a full examination. Things to weigh up can include sensitivity, the need for maintenance or replacement in future, and whether healthy tooth structure has to be altered.
Alternatives may include a less invasive option, a different treatment, or no treatment at all. Your written plan sets out the risks, alternatives and fees that apply to you before you decide.