How many appointments will root canal treatment take?

Root canal can often be completed in one appointment but sometimes two or three visits may be needed.

​

How long will the tooth last following root canal treatment?

With proper restoration and care your tooth it may last a lifetime after root canal treatment. Proper dental care includes regular brushing and flossing, proper diet and periodic dental check-ups.

​

Is root canal treatment painful?

With the use of modern techniques, root canal therapy typically involves little or no discomfort. Often there is pain before treatment and endodontic therapy provides relief.

​

Will I be in pain after the procedure?

Cleaning the root canals may cause some slight tenderness but usually over-the-counter pain killers alleviate the discomfort. If pain persists or if you experience severe pain, call to arrange an appointment.

​

How much does root canal treatment cost?

Root canal treatment starts at £550 for a single-rooted tooth, £850 for a multi-rooted tooth and £1000 for retreatment. Endodontic treatment is often more economical in the long term than other treatments.

​

What are the alternatives to root canal treatment?

The alternative to root canal treatment is extraction of the tooth. Losing a tooth can create a functional problem (eating) or an aesthetic problem. Restoring the lost tooth may involve having a denture, bridge or a dental implant.

​

Can all teeth be treated with root canal treatment?

Sometimes a tooth cannot be saved. Root canal treatment can be performed only if the root canals can be accessed and can be sufficiently cleaned and sealed. The tooth must also have enough bone support and have a good long term chance of survival

Can the treatment fail?

Yes, root canal treatment can  fail, however, it can be success 90% of the time.

Will can often give you an estimated chance of success before the treatment.

Problems can occur if the tooth develops decay or the restoration on the tooth fails, or on occasions despite good care the tooth may not heal as expected. Further root canal treatment or surgery may be carried out if appropriate. A tooth that develops a crack can also be a cause of failure and may result in loss of the tooth.

​

What is Root canal 'Retreatment'?

Teeth that have had endodontic (root canal) treatment can last as long as natural teeth, however, in some cases the treatment can fail or symptoms can persist. This may happen shortly after the treatment has been performed or even years following the treatment.

In these cases it may be possible to carry out the treatment again, a procedure called root canal retreatment.

​

Why can the treatment fail?

Root canal treatment can fail for a many of reasons:

1) If it wasn't possible to treat narrow or curved canals well enough or the canals were not fully cleaned during the initial procedure

2) If the tooth has additional complicated anatomy that was not found on the initial treatment

3) If the final restoration was not placed quickly enough or the final restoration leaked due to a poor fit, fracture or recurrent decay around it

​

Is retreatment more complicated than initial root canal treatment?

Retreatment is often more complicated than initial root canal treatment as the tooth is normally fully restored with a permanent restoration (Crown or Bridge). This creates difficulty as access to the root canals is more difficult.