Root canal treatment in Tenbury Wells
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment, also called endodontics, treats a tooth whose pulp, the nerve and blood supply inside it, has become inflamed or has died. The dentist removes the damaged pulp, cleans and shapes the canals inside the root, and fills them, so the tooth can be kept rather than taken out. At Tenbury Dental Centre it costs £475 to £725.
A dying nerve can lead to an abscess, and the acute phase brings pain and swelling. In most cases, though, the patient feels no symptoms at all, which is why a routine X-ray is often what finds the problem.
Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel it, and sedation is available if you are anxious. Tasadduq Ali has a particular interest in endodontics and is part-way through a Master's degree in it.
£475 to £725What damages the nerve inside a tooth
The pulp can be inflamed or die after a blow to the tooth or mouth, a crack or split in the tooth, deep decay, or as a reaction to a very deep filling or a new crown on a tooth that was already compromised.
Some teeth hurt badly. Many do not, and the first sign is a shadow on an X-ray or a small swelling on the gum. Either way, the choice is usually the same: treat the root canal and keep the tooth, or take the tooth out.
Routine and difficult cases are treated here. Where a case is very complex, such as a re-treatment or surgery at the root tip, we may refer you on to a dentist who works only in endodontics.
Root canal treatment in four stages
Numbing and access
Local anaesthetic first, so the tooth is fully numb. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the pulp.
Cleaning the canals
The dying or dead pulp is removed with a series of very fine files, and the canals are shaped so they can be filled.
Disinfecting and filling
The canals are soaked with a strong antibacterial solution, dried with sterile paper cones, and filled with a soft rubber-like material called gutta percha.
Restoring the tooth
A final restoration seals the tooth. Sometimes a filling is enough; in most cases a crown is needed to protect it.
Usually one or two visits. Your dentist confirms the plan once they have seen your X-ray.
Root canal treatment or extraction?
Both stop the pain. One keeps the tooth.
| Root canal treatment | Extraction | |
|---|---|---|
| The tooth | Kept, cleaned inside and sealed | Removed, leaving a gap |
| What comes next | Usually a crown to protect the tooth | A bridge, implant or denture to fill the gap, or living with the gap |
| Visits | One or two, plus the crown | One, plus whatever replaces the tooth |
| Neighbouring teeth | Unaffected | Can drift into the gap over time |
| Cost at Tenbury | £475 to £725 | £89 to £240 |
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better outcome, but not every tooth can be saved. Your dentist tells you honestly which applies to yours.
Afterwards
You may feel some discomfort for a day or two, which ordinary painkillers control. The tooth will feel different for a while and that settles.
A root-treated tooth becomes more brittle over time, so in most cases a crown is the right finish for it, especially on a back tooth. Your dentist will tell you whether a filling is enough.
Fillings, root canal and extractions
| Fillings, root canal and extractions | Fees |
|---|---|
| Fillings | Fees: £81 - £185 |
| Root canal treatment | Fees: £475 - £725 |
|
Extractions
Simple through to complex. |
Fees: £89 - £240 |
Does root canal treatment hurt?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic for every stage, so you should not feel it during treatment. Afterwards there may be mild discomfort for a day or two, controlled with ordinary painkillers. Many people find the treatment relieves pain they had been living with, rather than causing it.
How do I know if I need root canal treatment?
Pain and swelling are the obvious signs, but in most cases people feel nothing at all. The tooth may be discoloured, tender to bite on, or show a shadow on a routine X-ray. That is why we take X-rays when needed at your examination, and why a check-up twice a year matters.
Why do I need an X-ray if the tooth does not hurt?
Because a dead or inflamed nerve often causes no pain, and an X-ray shows infection at the root that nothing else reveals. It also shows the shape and number of canals, which the dentist needs to plan the treatment properly.
Root canal or extraction: which is better?
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better outcome, because nothing replaces a natural tooth as well as the tooth itself, and a gap lets the neighbouring teeth drift. Extraction is right when a tooth is too broken down to restore. Your dentist tells you honestly which applies after looking at the X-ray.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
In most cases, yes, particularly on a back tooth. Root canal treatment removes the nerve and blood supply, and the tooth becomes more brittle, so a crown protects it from fracturing under the force of chewing. Sometimes a filling is enough on a front tooth. Crowns are £695 to £850.
What if my case is too complex for a general dentist?
Most root canals are treated here, including difficult ones. For very complex cases, such as re-treating a tooth that has had root canal before or surgery at the root tip, we may refer you to a dentist who works only in endodontics. We will tell you at the outset if we think that is likely.
A painful or dying tooth does not have to be lost
Call us. If you are in pain we keep appointments every day for urgent treatment, and an X-ray tells us whether the tooth can be saved.
Root canal treatment £475 to £725. Treatment is subject to an examination. Every mouth is different, so what is right for you is something we work out together at your consultation. Individual results vary. Or get in touch here.
Dental crowns in Tenbury Wells from £695 to £850 in zirconia or Emax. When a filling is no longer enough, a crown protects the tooth and matches your smile.
Tooth extractions in Tenbury Wells from £89 to £240, under local anaesthetic with sedation available. Clear aftercare and honest advice on replacing the tooth.