Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, aims to treat infection at the centre of the tooth. This infection is caused by bacteria, usually caused by tooth decay, unstable fillings, or when the tooth’s enamel is damaged.

It is essential to treat an infected root as the infection can spread via the blood stream into other parts of the body, and an untreated root can cause pain or swelling.

Generally, root treatment of the tooth lasts about 2 hours which is divided into three visits. The dentist will use local anaesthetic to remove the infected pulp, clean the root canals and fill them to prevent further infection. It is normal to experience some tenderness once the local anaesthetic has worn off but this will subside.

This dental treatment is part of general dentistry and is available under the NHS. The cost of root canal treatment depends on the tooth: Please visit our fee section to find the updated cost of root canal treatment. Please note that NHS fee structure is complex and varies considerably from patient to patient depending of the treatment required.

Your dentist will provide you with a written estimate before the treatment, so there will be no surprises. The treatment procedure and the care necessary after the treatment will be explained to you in the surgery as well.