Root Canal Treatment (Single Canal)

Root canal treatment removes infected or damaged pulp from inside a tooth, cleans and shapes the canal and seals it to relieve pain and save the tooth. Ddent performs endodontics with the aid of a microscope, which improves visibility of the fine canal anatomy. Pricing reflects the number of canals in the tooth, and the centre also re-treats teeth that have had previous root fillings that are no longer sealing properly.

Root canal (endodontic) treatment is used when the soft tissue inside a tooth — the pulp, which contains the nerve and blood supply — becomes inflamed or infected through deep decay, a crack or trauma. Left untreated this can cause severe pain and abscess formation; root canal treatment removes the affected pulp, disinfects and shapes the narrow canals within the root, and fills and seals them so the tooth can be kept rather than extracted. At Ddent the procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia and with the help of a dental operating microscope, which magnifies and illuminates the canal system so that fine or curved canals can be located and treated more thoroughly; microscope assistance is associated with more predictable cleaning of complex root anatomy. The number of canals varies by tooth — front teeth often have one while molars have three or more — which is why the price list is structured by canal count. After the canals are sealed, the tooth is usually restored with a substantial filling and, in many cases, a crown to protect it from fracture, since a root-treated tooth can become more brittle; these restorations are quoted separately. The centre also offers endodontic re-treatment for teeth where a previous root filling has failed or new infection has developed, carefully removing the old material before re-cleaning and re-sealing the canals. The likely number of canals, the number of visits and the recommended final restoration are explained at the appointment, along with the realistic prognosis for the tooth.