Root canal assessment
X-ray, diagnosis and pain relief.
Treatment visit
60–90 minutes
Anesthesia
Local
Total time
1–2 visits
Recovery
1–2 days
Lasts
10+ years
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, cleans the canals and seals them. It stops the pain and lets you keep your natural tooth instead of having it removed.
With modern anesthesia, most patients say it feels no worse than having a filling.
Is it right for you?
Good fit if you
Have a deep, lasting toothache
Feel pain when biting or chewing
Have sensitivity that lingers after hot or cold
Have swelling or a gum boil near a tooth
Worth discussing first if you
Have a cracked or badly broken tooth
Have had previous root treatment on that tooth
Take blood-thinning medication
Feel very anxious about dental treatment
The process, step by step
Day 0
Diagnosis
An examination and digital X-ray confirm the cause and the best way to treat it.
Visit 1
Cleaning the canals
Under local anesthesia, the infected tissue is removed and the canals are cleaned.
Visit 1–2
Sealing the tooth
The canals are filled and sealed to keep bacteria out for good.
Week 2–4
Crown or filling
A crown or strong filling protects the tooth so it lasts for years.
What affects the cost
The cost depends on which tooth is treated and how complex its roots are. The main factors:
Front tooth, premolar or molar
Number of canals in the tooth
Whether a crown is needed afterwards
Any re-treatment of an earlier root canal
We agree the full cost before treatment, and can discuss payment in stages.
Recovery and aftercare
The tooth may feel tender for a day or two. Simple pain relief is usually enough, and you can go back to work the same day.
Avoid chewing hard food on that side until the final crown or filling is in place. We review the tooth at your next check-up.
