We're now open on Saturdays 09:00-13:00 (pre-booked appointments only)
Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
Keeping the tooth rather than losing it
Removing infection from inside the tooth so it can be kept, restored and used normally.
Root canal treatment is the alternative to extraction when the nerve inside a tooth has died or become irreversibly inflamed. Our Principal Dentist holds a postgraduate certificate in Endodontics.
Root canal treatmentFrom £650
Principal Dentist holds a postgraduate certificate in Endodontics
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
The straight answer
Root canal treatment removes infected or dying nerve tissue from inside a tooth. The canals within the root are cleaned, shaped and disinfected, then sealed with a filling material to prevent reinfection. The tooth is then restored, usually with a crown, so it can withstand normal biting forces. It is the alternative to extraction.
Deep decay, a crack, trauma or repeated restoration can allow bacteria to reach the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. Once the pulp is irreversibly inflamed or dead it does not recover, and infection spreads through the root tip into the bone.
An opening is made through the crown of the tooth, the canals are located and measured, the diseased tissue is removed with fine instruments, and the space is irrigated with disinfectant solutions before being sealed three-dimensionally.
A root-treated tooth is not as strong as an intact one and is more prone to fracture, which is why a crown is usually recommended afterwards. Treatment has a good but not guaranteed success rate, and a small proportion of teeth need retreatment or eventually extraction.
Why patients come to us
Spontaneous pain, pain that lingers after hot or cold, and pain that wakes you at night all suggest the nerve inside the tooth is irreversibly inflamed rather than simply sensitive.
Practical outcome: the source of the pain is removed and the tooth is kept.
A recurring swelling or a small spot on the gum that discharges usually indicates infection draining from the root tip of a dead tooth. It may be painless.
Practical outcome: the infection inside the tooth is eliminated and the bone around the root tip is given the chance to heal.
Trauma can kill the nerve years before symptoms appear. The tooth darkens as the dead tissue breaks down inside it.
Practical outcome: infection is removed, and the discolouration can often be improved afterwards.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
Sensitivity tests and X-rays confirm which tooth is involved and whether the nerve is irreversibly damaged. The findings and alternatives are explained before treatment is agreed.
The tooth is numbed and isolated with a rubber dam, which keeps saliva and bacteria out of the canals and protects your airway.
A small opening is made through the crown of the tooth and the canal entrances are located.
Fine instruments remove the diseased tissue and shape the canals, and disinfectant solutions are used to irrigate them thoroughly. The working length is measured to the root tip.
Once clean and dry, the canals are filled and sealed. A temporary or permanent restoration is placed in the access cavity. Some cases are dressed and completed at a second visit.
A crown is normally recommended for back teeth to protect against fracture. Front teeth may be restored with a bonded filling depending on how much structure remains.
The tooth is reviewed clinically and radiographically to confirm that infection around the root tip is resolving.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Fees
Fees depend on what the examination finds, which is why the figures below are starting points rather than quotations.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before anything begins. The common belief that root canal treatment is painful comes largely from the pain of the infection that precedes it, not the procedure itself.
A rubber dam is placed over the tooth. Some patients find this reassuring; if you are claustrophobic, say so beforehand. Agree a hand signal to stop, and expect a long appointment with your mouth open.
The tooth is commonly tender to bite on for several days as the tissues around the root tip settle. Ordinary painkillers are usually sufficient. Avoid chewing hard food on that side until the permanent restoration is in place.
Contact the practice if pain increases rather than settles, if swelling develops, if you have a fever, or if a temporary filling comes out.
Common questions
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment begins, and most patients report the procedure itself feels similar to having a filling. The reputation comes largely from the pain of the infection beforehand. The tooth is commonly tender to bite on for a few days afterwards, which ordinary painkillers usually manage.
Most root canal treatments are completed in one or two appointments. Molars have more canals than front teeth and take longer. Complex cases, retreatments, or teeth with persistent infection may need additional visits. Your dentist will tell you what to expect once the tooth has been assessed.
For back teeth, usually yes. Root canal treatment involves removing tissue from inside the tooth, which leaves it more prone to fracture under biting forces. A crown protects the remaining structure. Front teeth take less load and can sometimes be restored with a bonded filling instead, depending on how much sound tooth remains.
Extraction costs less on the day. Replacing the missing tooth afterwards with an implant, bridge or denture usually costs considerably more than root canal treatment and a crown would have. Leaving a gap is an option, but neighbouring teeth can drift and the opposing tooth can over-erupt.
A successfully root-treated and properly restored tooth can last many years. Longevity depends on how much sound tooth remains, whether it is protected by a crown, your gum health, and whether you grind. No dentist can guarantee a lifespan, and the tooth is reviewed at your routine examinations.
A small proportion of root treatments do not fully resolve. Options then include retreatment, referral for surgical treatment at the root tip, or extraction. Your dentist will review the tooth clinically and on X-ray and explain what is realistic before recommending a next step.
Root-treated teeth can darken over time, which matters most on front teeth. Internal whitening can often improve the shade of a root-treated front tooth, and where it does not, a crown or veneer is an option. This should be discussed as part of planning, not left as a surprise.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
