Root Canal Treatments

Most root canal treatments are completed in two visits. The first visit removes the infected pulp, cleans the canals, and places a temporary filling. The second visit, usually 1-2 weeks later, involves permanently sealing the canals. Some straightforward cases may be completed in one visit, but multiple visits ensure thorough disinfection and the best long-term outcome.

No, root canal treatment itself is not painful. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, which completely numbs the tooth and surrounding area. You may feel pressure, but not sharp pain. The treatment is designed to relieve the severe pain caused by the infection inside the tooth.

Root canal treatment has a high success rate of over 90% when performed by a skilled dentist. Success depends on the tooth’s complexity, the extent of the original infection, and how well the tooth is restored afterwards with a permanent filling or crown.

Out-of-hours emergency root canal treatment is a complex, premium service. For the initial emergency appointment to relieve pain and start treatment (often a pulpotomy), you can expect a starting cost of approximately £450 – £600+. Completing the full treatment will involve additional costs at a follow-up appointment.

If you do not return to complete the second stage of your root canal treatment, the temporary filling will eventually fail. This leaves the interior of your tooth exposed to new bacteria and saliva, leading to re-infection of the root canals. The initial pain and symptoms are very likely to return, often worse than before, and can result in a painful abscess, bone loss around the tooth, and ultimately, the loss of the tooth itself. Completing the treatment with the permanent sealing and final restoration is essential to save the tooth long-term. This is why we will urge you following your first treatment appointment to either return to us or visit your own dentist if you have one.

If a root canal fails, you have options. The first is root canal re-treatment, where the procedure is carefully repeated. Alternatively, a minor surgical procedure called an apicectomy (removing the root tip) may be recommended. If these are not viable, the last resort is extraction of the tooth to clear the infection.

Delaying treatment will allow the infection to worsen. The pain will typically increase, and the infection can spread into the surrounding bone, causing an abscess (a painful, pus-filled swelling). This can lead to systemic illness, greater bone loss, and ultimately, the need for a tooth extraction.

This term is commonly used to describe the first stage of root canal treatment. The dentist numbs the tooth completely. They then create a small opening to access and remove the infected or inflamed nerve tissue (pulp) from inside the tooth’s canals. This step, often done in an emergency appointment, alleviates the immediate pain. The tooth is then cleaned and sealed with a temporary filling to protect it until the next visit for completion.