What it is
Root canal treatment removes infected pulp from inside the tooth, disinfects the canals and seals them, letting you keep a tooth that would otherwise be extracted.
Who needs it
Patients with severe or lingering tooth pain, night pain, swelling, or a deep cavity that has reached the nerve.
Procedure overview
- 1Digital X-ray and pulp testing
- 2Anaesthesia and isolation with a rubber dam
- 3Cleaning and shaping of the canals with rotary instruments
- 4Obturation and a protective crown
Aftercare
- Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until the crown is fitted
- Mild tenderness for 2–3 days is expected
- Complete the crown — an uncrowned RCT tooth can fracture
Frequently asked questions
Is root canal treatment painful?
Modern RCT is done under profound anaesthesia — it relieves pain rather than causing it. Most patients describe it as similar to having a filling.
Do I really need a crown afterwards?
Yes for back teeth. A treated tooth becomes brittle and a crown protects it from splitting.