Crowns & bridges
Metal-free zirconia and Emax crowns that protect weak teeth and look completely natural. Bridges to replace missing teeth.
Explore crowns & bridges- Home
- Treatments
- General dentistry
- Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment has an unfair reputation. Done properly it is no more uncomfortable than a filling, and it is the treatment that relieves the pain rather than causing it.
from £995· depending on the tooth 1–2 visits 1–2
Why you might need it
Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels. When deep decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach it, the tissue becomes inflamed and then infected. That is the throbbing toothache, the sensitivity to hot, the swelling or the abscess. Left alone, the infection spreads into the bone and the tooth is eventually lost.
Root canal treatment removes the infected tissue, cleans and shapes the canals inside the root, and seals them so bacteria cannot return. The tooth is then restored, usually with a crown, and can last for many more years.
How we make it comfortable
Thorough local anaesthetic, a rubber dam to keep the tooth isolated and dry, magnification and modern rotary instruments make the procedure predictable and calm. Most single-rooted teeth are completed in one visit; molars with several canals may take two. For particularly complex cases we offer a consultation with a specialist endodontist.
Why patients choose Shirland for root canal treatment
Ends toothache and infection
Saves your natural tooth
Comfortable with modern anaesthetic technique
Often completed in one visit
Specialist consultation available
Emergency slots seven days a week
What to expect
1
Diagnosis
An x-ray confirms the infection and which tooth is responsible. If you are in pain we start treatment the same day.
2
Cleaning and shaping
Under anaesthetic, the canals are cleaned, disinfected and shaped, then sealed with a rubber-like filling material.
3
Restoration
A permanent filling or, for back teeth, a crown protects the tooth from fracture.
FAQs
Root canal treatment: your questions answered.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
No. With good anaesthetic the procedure itself is painless. Some tenderness for a day or two afterwards is normal and settles with ordinary painkillers.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to take the tooth out?
Initially, yes. But a missing tooth usually needs replacing with a bridge or implant, which costs more in the long run. Keeping your own tooth is almost always the better option.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
For molars and premolars, usually yes, because a root-treated tooth is more brittle. Front teeth can often be restored with a filling alone.
Related
All treatments Often considered alongside root canal treatment.
Emergency dentist
Toothache, swelling, a broken tooth or lost crown: same-day emergency appointments seven days a week, including Sundays.
Explore emergency dentistWhite fillings
Tooth-coloured composite fillings that are invisible in your smile. Replace old silver amalgam too.
Explore white fillings Get in touch
Book.
Talk to us about root canal treatment.
Book online in under a minute, or leave your details and we will call you back within one working day. No pressure, no obligation.
020 7289 3120 Open now