Root canal treatment

What root canal treatment actually is

Deep inside every tooth is soft tissue, the pulp. When decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed and then infected: this is the throbbing, keep-you-up-at-night toothache. Root canal treatment removes the infected tissue, disinfects the canals, and seals them, keeping your natural tooth where extraction was the only alternative.

Does it hurt? Honestly?

The pain people associate with "root canal" is the infection, not the treatment. With thorough modern anaesthesia the procedure itself feels much like having a filling, just longer. Most patients feel dramatically better within a day or two of the first appointment, once the pressure of the infection is relieved.

What's involved

• Usually two to three visits, depending on the tooth and the infection
• Dr Pavan Bellubbi performs endodontic treatment with modern rotary instruments
• A root-treated back tooth usually needs a crown afterwards to protect it; we'll include this in your written plan so there are no surprise costs later