The aim of root canal treatment is to save the tooth rather than remove it: the inflamed tissue causing the pain is taken out and your tooth stays where it is.
What is endodontics?
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with diseases of the pulp, the soft connective tissue inside the tooth that carries its nerves and blood vessels, and of the hard enamel and dentine that surround it.
When deep decay, a fracture or a blow reaches the pulp, the tissue becomes inflamed and cannot heal by itself. In root canal treatment this tissue is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and they are then filled and sealed.
Which symptoms point to root canal treatment?
- Toothache that starts by itself, worsens at night or throbs
- Lingering sensitivity to hot and cold
- Pain when chewing or pressing on the tooth
- Darkening of the tooth
- Swelling of the gum, an abscess or a pimple-like spot that drains
Some teeth lose their vitality without any pain; this is usually noticed on a routine X-ray. It is one of the reasons regular check-ups matter.
How is root canal treatment done?
- Diagnosis and X-rayThe condition of the tooth and the shape of its root canals are assessed on an X-ray.
- AnaesthesiaThe tooth and the area around it are numbed with local anaesthetic; you feel no pain during the procedure.
- Cleaning the canalsThe decay is removed and the pulp is reached. The inflamed tissue is taken out; the canals are shaped with special instruments and rinsed with disinfecting solutions.
- Filling the canalsThe cleaned canals are filled to the tip and sealed with a tissue-friendly material.
- Restoring the toothThe tooth is rebuilt with a filling or, where a lot of tooth has been lost, a crown, to restore its shape and strength.
Depending on the tooth, treatment may be finished in one session or spread over a few sessions to let the infection settle.
After treatment
- Do not eat until the numbness wears off; you could bite your cheek or tongue.
- Mild tenderness on biting in the first few days is normal and usually passes by itself.
- Do not chew hard foods on that side until the permanent filling or crown is in place.
- Let us know if you have severe pain, swelling or if the temporary filling comes out.
A root-filled tooth is no longer vital, but it keeps working. If its filling or crown is done in good time and it is well looked after, it can stay in the mouth for many years.
Frequently asked questions
Is root canal treatment painful?
The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, so you feel no pain during it. For a few days afterwards the tooth may be slightly tender to bite on; this is easily controlled with painkillers.
How many sessions does root canal treatment take?
Between one and three, depending on the number of canals and the state of the infection. In many teeth treatment can be completed in a single session.
Would it be better to have the tooth extracted instead?
Keeping a tooth that can be saved is usually the best option. If the space left by an extracted tooth is not filled, the neighbouring teeth drift into it; replacing it with an implant or bridge is a longer and more costly process.
Can a root-filled tooth hurt again?
After successful treatment the tooth itself does not feel pain. Occasionally infection can develop in the canal again; in that case the root canal treatment can be repeated.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an examination. The right treatment for you is decided after your dentist's examination and any imaging needed.