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Root canal treatment (also called endodontic
treatment) is the process where a dentist removes the pulp (the blood and nerve
supply) from an infected or dying tooth and replaces it with dental filling material.
Why would I need root canal treatment?
The pulp of your tooth can become infected when decay passes
right through the hard parts of the tooth into the root canal system in the
middle. It can also happen if the tooth is accidentally damaged.
When an infection starts it can spread throughout the root canal system, eventually leading to an abscess.
If you don’t have root canal treatment the infection
can spread into the surrounding tissues, causing pain and swelling, and your
dentist may have no choice but to extract the tooth. It is always better
to avoid an extraction if possible.
You won’t necessarily feel any pain in the early stages: but just because a tooth isn’t hurting
yet doesn’t necessarily mean that it is healthy. As with many illnesses,
there isn’t any pain or discomfort until the latter stages of the disease and
treatment is often more effective and more likely to succeed if started early.
Figure
1
Figure 2
Images courtesy of British Dental Association
In figure 1, the tooth on the right has a cavity forming - it
has already passed through the hard enamel (shown in white) and into the softer
dentine beneath. The tooth on the left has a smaller cavity.
In figure 2, the decay in the right-hand tooth has passed
right through the dentine to the pulp cavity, causing an infection. The
infection has passed down the root canal system, leading to the formation of an
abscess on the end of one of the roots (the round red area). The cavity in
the left hand tooth has become deeper, too, but it isn't yet causing any infection.
What will the dentist do?
The aim of root canal treatment is to eradicate the infection in the root canal and save the tooth.
Figure
3
Figure 4
Images courtesy of British Dental Association
In figure 3, the dentist has removed the decayed dental tissues from both teeth. In the left hand tooth, the decay
hasn't reached the pulp cavity and the damage can be repaired with a filling. In the
right hand tooth, the decay has gone right through to the pulp, so the soft tissues in the middle of the
tooth have to be removed to cure the infection. The dentist then shapes
the root canal system using special files and cleans it thoroughly.
In figure 4, the tooth on the left has been restored with a filling
(the filling material is shown in black here for clarity). The dentist
has root-filled the tooth on the right - once the root canal system is sufficiently clean, it is
filled with special materials to stop any infection getting back in (the materials are shown in pink and yellow). The upper
part of the tooth has been restored with a filling
(the filling material is shown in back) but this is usually only a temporary
measure and your dentist will have to fit a crown
later.
Will the dentist use anaesthetic?
Yes. You will be given a dental anaesthetic before work begins
so that you don’t feel anything.
How long will a tooth last after it is root filled?
Our own clinical audit data (compiled in November 2005) show
that 90% of all the teeth we root fill last for more than
6 years. Even if the infection comes back it is often possible for your
dentist to repeat the root canal treatment to get rid of the infection again and
avoid extracting your tooth.
What does root canal treatment cost?
Each treatment costs from £360.00. The
exact price depends on which tooth is to be filled (some teeth have more root canals than others so it takes longer to treat
them since each canal has to be done separately). Click here to
see our price list.
What will happen if I don’t have root canal treatment?
The only other effective treatment option is for the dentist to
extract the tooth (and if the decay and/or infection has spread too far this may
be the only option). Antibiotics will NOT by themselves "cure" an
endodontic infection. If you had no treatment at all then even if the
tooth hasn’t yet caused you any pain it will eventually do so. The pain
from dental infections can be extremely intense. There can also be
unpleasant swelling. Delaying treatment also reduces the prospects of success and it may prove impossible for
your dentist to save the tooth at a later stage.
What happens after root canal treatment?
Teeth often last for many more years after a root filling has
been placed. Nonetheless, root filled teeth are more brittle and prone to
damage than "live" teeth. This often means that it is necessary to place a crown on the tooth after root
canal treatment. The crown helps to hold what remains of the tooth
together and to protect it. The ongoing health of the tooth will be
monitored by your dentist. This involves taking x-rays annually to see
whether any infected area on the end of the roots (see diagrams above) has
disappeared. If it doesn't disappear, it may be necessary to repeat the
procedure. If it does disappear within 4 years, the root canal treatment is considered a complete success and
no further x-rays will be necessary (other than for your routine check-ups).
Interest free credit
If you spend over £500, you can spread the cost of your treatment over up to 6 months, interest free.
Spend £1,500 or more and you can have up to 12 months to pay at no extra cost.
What is root canal treatment?
