Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, cleans the canals in its roots and seals them, so you keep your own tooth instead of losing it. At Suman Dental Care it is done by Dr. Neha Agrawal, an endodontist with an MDS in conservative dentistry and endodontics.
Step by step
Root canal treatment
- Before
- Treatment
- After
2–3 visits of 45–90 minutes over 2–4 weeks, then a review X-ray at about 6 months.
When decay or a crack reaches the pulp, the nerve inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. Left alone, the infection spreads into the bone around the root tip and the tooth may be lost. A root canal removes the infection and keeps your own tooth, which chews better than any replacement.
- Lingering pain with hot or cold
- Throbbing pain that wakes you at night
- Swelling or a pimple on the gum near a tooth
- A deep cavity or crack seen on an X-ray
- A tooth that has darkened after an injury
The tooth is numb for 2–3 hours after each visit, so wait before eating. Mild tenderness when biting is common for 2–5 days and usually settles with the pain relief you normally take.
Avoid chewing hard food on that side until the crown is fitted. A tooth with a temporary filling can crack.
See the full aftercare card.
- Flare-up: about 1 in 20 teeth become more painful or swollen for a few days after the first visit. It is treated with medicine and, if needed, an extra cleaning.
- A broken instrument inside a curved canal is uncommon and is usually removed or bypassed.
- Re-infection years later can happen if the seal or crown leaks. It can often be re-treated.
- Cracked tooth: a root-filled tooth without a crown is more likely to crack, which is why a crown is usually advised on back teeth.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
- Examination and the X-rays needed during treatment
- Local anaesthetic and rubber-dam isolation
- Cleaning, shaping and sealing all canals
- A temporary filling between visits
- A review visit
Questions patients ask
Is root canal treatment painful?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain. The pain usually comes from the infection before treatment, not from the treatment itself. Read is root canal treatment painful?
Can it be done in one visit?
Often, yes, when the tooth is not badly infected. A tooth with an abscess or swelling is usually treated over two visits with medicine in between.
Do I need a crown afterwards?
On back teeth, usually yes. Removing the pulp and decay leaves the tooth weaker, and a crown protects it from cracking. Front teeth sometimes need only a filling.
Is extraction a better option?
Keeping your own tooth is usually better for chewing and for the bone. Replacing an extracted tooth with an implant or bridge is a longer process. Read root canal or extraction.
How long does a root-filled tooth last?
With a good seal and a crown, most root-filled teeth last many years. Brushing, flossing and regular check-ups matter as much as the treatment.
After a root canal
What to do after treatment, day by day.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.