Root Canal

Root canal therapy has an undeserved reputation. For many patients, the words alone can cause anxiety — yet modern root canal treatment is typically no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed, and it is the procedure that ends the pain of a toothache, not the cause of it. Its goal is straightforward: save your natural tooth by removing infection and sealing the canal system so the tooth can function comfortably for years to come.

Inside every tooth, beneath the hard enamel and dentine, is a soft tissue called the pulp. It contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When this pulp becomes infected or inflamed — due to deep decay, a crack, repeated dental procedures, or trauma — bacteria begin to multiply inside the root canal. Left untreated, this leads to pain, abscess, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss.

When root canal therapy is needed

• Severe or persistent toothache, especially to heat or cold

• Prolonged sensitivity that lingers after the stimulus is removed

• Darkening or discolouration of a tooth

• Swelling, tenderness, or a pimple on the gum near a tooth

• Pain when biting or chewing on a specific tooth

• A cracked tooth with signs of nerve involvement

What the procedure involves

The tooth and surrounding area are thoroughly numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment begins. A small opening is made in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The infected tissue is carefully removed using fine instruments, and each canal is cleaned, shaped, and disinfected. The canals are then filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and sealed.

Following root canal therapy, a crown is usually recommended to protect the treated tooth, which can become more brittle over time without its internal pulp. With a crown in place, a root canal-treated tooth can function like a healthy natural tooth for decades.

Recovery and aftercare

Mild soreness or tenderness around the treated tooth for a few days after the procedure is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Most patients return to normal activities the following day. Your dentist will schedule a follow-up to confirm healing and discuss the permanent restoration that completes the treatment.