Root Canal Treatment

Root-canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside the tooth, disinfects and shapes the canals, and seals them so a tooth that would otherwise be lost can be kept. At SmileStudio the fee depends on how many canals the tooth has, and retreatment is available for teeth that have failed a previous root filling. A core build-up or crown is usually advised afterwards to protect the restored tooth.

Root-canal (endodontic) treatment is carried out when the soft tissue inside a tooth — the pulp, which contains its nerve and blood supply — becomes irreversibly inflamed or infected, often from deep decay, a crack or trauma. The dentist removes the diseased pulp, then cleans, disinfects and shapes the fine canals inside the roots before filling and sealing them, allowing a tooth that might otherwise need extraction to be retained. Because back teeth have more canals than front teeth, SmileStudio prices the treatment by canal count, and the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, usually with a rubber dam to keep the tooth clean and dry. Treatment may be completed in one or more visits depending on the tooth and the level of infection. Some tenderness when biting for a few days afterwards is common and settles as healing progresses. The clinic also offers endodontic retreatment (reendo) for teeth where a previous root filling has not resolved the problem or has become re-infected — this involves removing the old material, re-cleaning the canals and re-sealing them, and is priced separately. A root-treated tooth is more brittle than a healthy one, so a definitive restoration is important: SmileStudio offers a direct core build-up after treatment and, for many teeth, will recommend a crown or onlay to protect against fracture and restore full function. Your dentist will explain the prognosis for your particular tooth, the likely number of visits and the recommended final restoration before starting.