Root Canal Treatment
The root canal is the natural channel inside the root of your tooth, containing the nerve and blood supply, known as the pulp. When that pulp becomes infected, root canal treatment removes it, cleans and disinfects the space, and seals it, stopping the infection and saving the tooth rather than losing it.
Root canal treatment has a strong success rate, and for most patients it’s the difference between keeping a natural tooth and needing an extraction.
How do I know I need root canal treatment?
You might need root canal treatment if:
- You feel sharp pain when chewing or biting
- A tooth stays sensitive to heat or cold well after the trigger is gone
- There’s swelling near a tooth
- A tooth has darkened, whether or not it hurts
- A tooth has suffered significant trauma
Some infected teeth show no symptoms at all and are only picked up on an X-ray, which is one reason regular check-ups matter.
Is root canal treatment painful?
It’s done under local anaesthetic, so the procedure itself shouldn’t hurt any more than having a filling. In most cases, the pain people associate with root canal treatment is actually the infection itself, not the treatment that resolves it. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and settles on its own.
What happens during treatment
The infected pulp is removed, the canal (or canals, a tooth can have anywhere from one to four) is cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed. Most root canals are completed in one to two visits, more only if the infection is severe or the tooth’s anatomy is complex. Back teeth in particular often need a crown afterwards, since they’re left more brittle and take the most force when you chew.
After your treatment
Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until any permanent filling or crown is fitted, it’s more vulnerable in the meantime. Mild soreness for a few days is normal and usually responds well to standard painkillers. If pain increases rather than easing, or you notice swelling, contact us straight away.
Book a Consultation
In pain, or told you might need root canal treatment? Book an appointment and we’ll get you out of pain and talk you through what’s next.