Root canal treatment (also known as endodontic treatment) is indicated for a tooth where the pulp (nerve and blood vessels) has become infected or died. These teeth can often become painful and could lead to dental abscesses unless root canal treatment is carried out or the tooth is removed.

During treatment the infected pulp is removed from the tooth and the spaces this occupied inside the tooth (the root canals) are cleaned with specialised nickel titanium instruments and antibacterial cleaning agents. This space is then filled with a root filling material before sealing the tooth with a conventional filling, to reduce the risk of bacteria re-entering.

After root canal treatment, particularly of a back tooth, a crown (cap) would often be recommended to help to protect the tooth. You will be advised to see your normal dentist to have this carried out.

Whilst all dentists have had some amount of training in root canal treatment, some teeth have more complicated anatomy, which can make the treatment more challenging. Teeth can have multiple root canals that can be difficult to find, or teeth that have failed after previous root canal treatment can be more difficult to treat again. RD Dental is one of the few practices in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Rutland where your root canal (endodontic) treatment will be carried out under a dental microscope, which allows us to have an enhanced view of the tooth. We also use specialised equipment such as nickel titanium files and ultrasonics.

RD Dental is fortunate to be one of the few dental practices in the Midlands to have a specialist in endodontic treatment called Vikesh Mody, hence is used to treat complex cases on a daily basis. Vikesh is also involved in teaching root canal treatment to other dentists and dental students around Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

During root canal treatment the tooth will be numbed, similar to when having a normal filling. The procedure should then be comfortable with very little or no discomfort. In fact, many of our patients fall asleep during the procedure. The tooth may be sensitive for a few days after root canal treatment but this normally settles using pain relief you would normally use for as headache.

Treatment will be carried out over one or more appointments depending on the condition of the tooth and the degree of complexity of the treatment.

Root canal treatment has been shown to be very successful to save a tooth that would otherwise require removal. After root canal treatment, as long as teeth are looked after in a similar way to the other teeth, these can often survive for many years without any problems.