Saving the tooth
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment has an outdated reputation. In practice it relieves severe toothache and keeps a natural tooth in place, which is almost always better than replacing it.
Why a tooth needs it
When decay, a crack or trauma lets bacteria reach the nerve inside a tooth, the tissue becomes inflamed or infected. That produces lingering pain, temperature sensitivity, swelling, or a dull ache that wakes you at night. Left alone it can progress to an abscess.
- Persistent, throbbing toothache
- Pain that lingers after hot or cold
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum
- A tooth that has darkened
- Pain on biting after a crack
What the appointment is like
The tooth is fully numbed, the infected tissue is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and the space is sealed. Most patients report the procedure itself is comfortable — the pain they arrived with is what they remember.
Because the tooth becomes more brittle afterwards, a crown is usually recommended to protect it from fracture.
Afterwards
Mild tenderness for a few days is normal. Chew carefully on that side until the permanent restoration is placed.
Common questions
Does a root canal hurt?
The treatment is done under local anaesthetic and is generally comfortable. The pain associated with root canals comes from the infection beforehand.
Would extraction be simpler?
Sometimes, but every extraction creates a new problem to solve — a gap, bone loss and drifting teeth. Keeping your own tooth is usually the better long-term decision.
Related treatments
Talk to us about root canal therapy
Bring your questions. We will examine, explain what we see, and give you options with costs before anything starts.