Root canal treatment in Rugby

Root canal treatment ends the pain of an inflamed or dead nerve, clears the infection and keeps the tooth. In Rugby it is carried out under magnification, with the tooth fully numbed and isolated, and most teeth are completed in a single visit.

Why a tooth needs root canal treatment

The pulp — the nerve and blood supply at the centre of a tooth — can be reached by bacteria through deep decay, a leaking restoration, a crack or an injury. Once it is inflamed beyond recovery it does not heal; it dies, and infection follows the canals down to the root tip and into the bone. Root canal treatment removes the source of the problem and seals the space so that bacteria cannot return.

Signs you may need it

pain that lingers after hot or cold rather than fading in seconds;
an ache that comes on by itself, throbs or wakes you;
a tooth that is sore to bite on or to tap;
a swelling, or a small spot on the gum that discharges;
a tooth that has darkened after a knock;
infection seen on an X-ray with no symptoms at all.

Because cracks, gum problems and neighbouring teeth can produce the same complaints, treatment follows a confirmed diagnosis from a tooth pain consultation.

The appointment

Numbing and checking. Local anaesthetic is given and tested before we start. Pressure and vibration are normal; sharp pain is not, and we stop and add more if you feel any.
Isolation. A thin rubber sheet is fitted around the tooth so that it stays dry and clean and you can swallow normally.
Access. A small opening is made through the biting surface or an existing restoration.
Cleaning and shaping. Under magnification each canal is located, measured electronically, cleaned with fine flexible instruments and irrigated repeatedly to the tip of the root.
Sealing. The dried canals are filled with a rubber-like material and sealer, and the opening is closed.

Most teeth are completed in one visit of 60 to 90 minutes. A badly infected tooth may be dressed with medication and finished at a second visit.

Afterwards

The tooth and gum feel bruised for two or three days; ordinary painkillers are usually enough. Chew on the other side until the tooth has its permanent restoration, and contact us if pain increases, a swelling appears or the temporary filling comes out.

Protecting the result

A root-treated back tooth needs a crown or onlay to guard against cracking; some front teeth can be restored with a filling. Your dentist places it, ideally within a few weeks, following the recommendation in our report. Looked after well, a root-treated tooth can last as long as its neighbours.

Related endodontic care

Root canal retreatment

When a root-treated tooth becomes painful or infected again, retreatment can usually save it. The earlier root filling is removed, the canal system is cleaned thoroughly — including any canals missed first time — and the tooth is sealed and restored once more.

Microscope-assisted endodontics

Root canals can be finer than a hair and hide behind calcified dentine. Working under an operating microscope gives bright, magnified sight of the inside of the tooth — the difference between guessing and seeing. It is how every root canal treatment and retreatment is carried out here.

Endodontic microsurgery

When infection lingers at the tip of a root and cannot be treated through the crown of the tooth, a small surgical procedure — an apicectomy — removes the infected root tip and seals the canal from the outside. Under magnification it is a gentle, predictable way to keep a tooth that would otherwise be lost.