Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment saves a tooth with an infected or damaged nerve. Your dentist removes the infected tissue from inside the tooth, cleans and seals the space, then usually protects it with a crown. Despite the reputation, it relieves the pain of an infection rather than causing it.

With modern anaesthetic, the procedure itself is comfortable, similar to having a filling. It actually relieves the pain caused by the infection. Some tenderness afterwards is normal and short-lived.

Saving your natural tooth is usually the better long-term choice. It preserves your bite and avoids the cost and effort of replacing the tooth with an implant, bridge, or denture.

Often one or two, depending on the tooth and the infection. We'll let you know what to expect at your assessment.

The infection spreads. Pain worsens, an abscess can form, and a tooth that was saveable becomes an extraction. Delaying rarely saves money; it usually multiplies the cost.

Wait until the numbness wears off, then eat on the other side for a day or two. Avoid hard or chewy food on that tooth until the permanent filling or crown is placed, since the tooth is more fragile in between.

Usually yes. A root-treated tooth can become brittle, so a crown protects it from cracking and helps it last for years.

With a protective crown and good care, a root-treated tooth can last a lifetime. Regular check-ups help keep it healthy.