Root Canal
-
Procedure time
90 - 140 minutes
What is the treatment?
Root canal treatment, also known as Endodontic therapy, is a way of keeping a tooth, once the live part (the pulp) has become irreversibly damaged.
The pulp is a mixture of nerve fibres and tiny blood vessels that can become very inflamed (giving tooth ache) or die off (causing an abscess). This can happen either in the presence of tooth decay or after a heavy blow to the tooth.
The aim of the procedure is to painlessly remove the damaged pulp, under local anaesthetic, and remove any infection that may be present. Once the canals have been shaped, and disinfected they are filled with a special filling material to remove any space for bacteria to grow.
We operate on a dentist referral basis only.
Please speak to your dentist about getting referred to this clinic.
How long does it take?
This work is usually carried out over one or two visits of up to 90 minutes a time. Once the tooth has been treated the crown of the tooth is restored with a large filling or cast restoration.
view prices
How much does it cost?
The following prices are a guide only and exclude any additional fees for consultation, xrays and CT scanning, sedation (if required). You will be provided with a personalised treatment plan following a consultant appointment at the clinic. View our full price list.
Molar
£600
Premolar
£500
Incisor/Canine
£500
Does root canal treatment hurt?
With careful use of local anaesthetic a root canal filling can be completely painless from start to finish.
When root canal treatment is being carried out on a tooth that has been causing toothache, it will take the pain away and leave the patient feeling much better.
My dentist says I need a root filling but the tooth doesn’t hurt me, so why should I bother?
When a tooth has died off there is often no pain from it, usually because the pulp has been destroyed. Although there is no pain, there will be infection present that will lead to an abscess.
Early treatment of the tooth will remove this infection before it worsens and will prevent the abscess from becoming a problem. Healing rates are also better in teeth that are less heavily infected.
If I don’t want a root filling what other choices have I got?
Once the pulp of the tooth has become irreversibly damaged then root canal treatment is the only way of keeping the tooth.
The only alternative treatment is to extract the tooth. Before making a decision on whether to save a tooth or not, any patient should consider how much it would cost to replace the tooth, and how this work will affect the teeth round about.
Keeping the tooth is usually the cheapest, least destructive option.