Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Therapy is often the last solution to saving a damaged tooth. Often feared by many, at London Smiling we take time to ensure you are comfortable and have a great experience.

What are Root Canals and what exactly does it do?

Root Canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth  is infected through decay or injury. The infection if untreated will result in pain and often an abscess.

What happens with treatment?

The aim is to remove all infected tissue inside the tooth and this is done using very fine precision instruments. The tooth is cleaned and shaped and filled.  A very skilled time consuming process, it can take as many as 3 visits to complete.

Do Root Canals hurt?

Although the root canal treatment is generally feared, in most cases it is totally painless. A local anesthetic is used and it should feel no different to having an ordinary filling done.

What if I don’t have the treatment?

The alternative is to have the tooth out. It is usually recommended to try and save the tooth first though.

What happens after my Root Canal treatment?

The tooth is often restored with a crown to provide extra strength and support to the tooth.  Sometimes the tooth can discolour and there are treatments such as teeth whitening to address this. Occasionally the treatment may need to be repeated if for any reason the infection comes back.