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What is root canal treatment?
A common way to relieve tooth pain and avoid an extraction
Root canal treatment removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth, then cleans, fills and seals it to relieve pain and preserve the natural tooth.
Inside the tooth
What happens inside the tooth
“Endo” is Greek for inside and “odont” for tooth. Endodontic treatment is all about the inside of the tooth, and root canal treatment is the most common type.
Anatomy of a tooth
Under the white enamel and hard dentin is the pulp: blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue running from the crown to the root tips.
An infected and inflamed tooth
Deep decay or a cracked tooth has let the pulp become infected and inflamed, leading to pain and an abscess at the root tip.
The root canal cleaned and shaped
The pulp has been removed and the canals cleaned and shaped. A mature tooth can survive without its pulp, nourished by the tissues around it.
A fully restored tooth
The canals are filled and sealed, a core build-up supports the crown, and the bone around the root has healed.
During treatment
Comfortable from start to finish
Root canal treatment is a common way to relieve tooth pain. It may be done over one or two appointments.
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Always done with strong pain-relieving anaesthetic
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Sedation is available if you need it
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A temporary filling closes the tooth afterwards
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Your endodontist and dentist agree the right restoration
Every patient and every tooth is different, so we do not promise treatment or recovery will be completely pain-free.
Talk to us about your concerns →Afterwards
The first few days after treatment
Your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure.
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Over-the-counter or prescription medication can relieve discomfort
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Follow your endodontist's instructions carefully
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The tooth may feel slightly different for some time
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Call us if severe pain or pressure lasts more than a few days
Old root canal problems?
Sometimes patients come to us with old root canals or problem root canals that have become painful or diseased months or years after treatment. In this case, we can retreat the tooth to remove any infection and ensure it can heal again.
Reference: information copyrighted by and courtesy of the American Association of Endodontics.
Root canal treatment questions
Questions patients often ask
Short answers to what patients ask most about root canal treatment. Call us if your question is not here.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
Local anaesthetic is routinely used during treatment. Some tenderness may occur afterwards while the tissues around the tooth recover, and individual experiences vary.
How long does root canal treatment take?
Treatment is commonly completed over one or two appointments. The exact sequence depends on the tooth and how complex the case is.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
Some root canal-treated teeth need a crown, while others are restored differently. Your endodontist and general dentist can advise what is appropriate for your tooth.
How can I know if root canal treatment is right for me?
A specialist assessment allows your endodontist to evaluate your symptoms, examine your tooth and explain the options available to you.
Been told you need a root canal? You are not alone
Book a specialist assessment and we will explain what your tooth needs, what treatment involves and what to expect.
