Root canal treatment

What root canal treatment is for

Root canal treatment may be recommended if you've got tooth pain caused by an infected tooth.

The soft part inside a tooth (the pulp) can become infected because of:

• tooth decay
• gum disease
• it being chipped, broken or cracked
• a dental abscess (a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums)

If you have an infected tooth and do not have root canal treatment, you may need to have the tooth taken out.

How to get root canal treatment

You can get root canal treatment from an NHS or private dentist. Sometimes you may see a root canal specialist called an endodontist.

Most people need to pay for NHS dental treatment. Root canal treatment is classed as a band 2 treatment under NHS dental treatment costs.

Some people are entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs.

How root canal treatment is done

Before having root canal treatment, you'll usually be given a local anaesthetic, so you'll be awake but will not feel any pain.

The main steps of root canal treatment are:

1. A dentist drills a hole in the tooth.
2. The infected pulp (the soft part inside the tooth) is removed. If you have a dental abscess it will be drained.
3. The inside of the tooth is cleaned and shaped for a filling.
4. A filling is put in and the tooth is sealed.

It usually takes 2 or more appointments to do the treatment. The appointments may last 1 to 2 hours, or sometimes longer.

You may have a temporary filling between appointments before the permanent one is done.

A crown (a cap that completely covers the tooth) may be needed if the tooth was badly infected.

Recovering from root canal treatment

You may not have any feeling in your jaw and face for several hours after root canal treatment, while the anaesthetic wears off.

The area around your tooth may feel swollen and sore but it should get better in a couple of weeks.

There are things you can do to help you recover from root canal treatment and keep the tooth healthy.