Root canal treatment removes infection or inflammation from inside a tooth so it can be saved rather than taken out. It may be recommended when decay, a crack or an injury reaches the nerve. At our Al Rigga clinic, your dentist examines the tooth and explains whether it is the right option.
Warning signs
These signs don't always mean you need a root canal, but they are worth having checked. Only a dental examination, usually with an X-ray, can confirm it.
Pain that throbs, wakes you at night or keeps coming back.
Sensitivity to hot or cold that stays after the food or drink is gone.
Tenderness when chewing or touching the tooth.
Swelling or a pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth.
A tooth that becomes greyer or darker than its neighbours.
Damage or an old injury that may have reached the nerve.
The basics
Inside every tooth is the pulp — soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels that runs through narrow channels in the root, called root canals. When bacteria reach the pulp through deep decay, a crack or repeated dental work, it can become inflamed or infected.
Root canal treatment removes the affected pulp, disinfects and shapes the canals, then seals them. The tooth is then restored with a filling or crown so it can keep working like a normal tooth.
Step by step
The dentist examines the tooth and takes X-rays to see the roots and any infection.
Local anaesthetic is used to numb the tooth and surrounding area.
A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the canals.
Infected pulp is removed and the canals are cleaned, disinfected and shaped.
The canals are filled and sealed to help prevent reinfection.
A filling or crown is placed, sometimes at a later visit, to protect the tooth.
The treatment is done under local anaesthetic, and it is usually performed to relieve pain from an infected tooth rather than cause it. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is common. Tell your dentist if you feel anxious or uncomfortable.
Some root canals are finished in one appointment; others need more than one, especially if the infection is complex or the tooth has several canals. Your dentist will explain the plan after examining you.
Back teeth and teeth with a lot of lost structure often need a crown to protect them after root canal treatment. Your dentist will recommend the suitable final restoration.
Pricing
Root canal costs vary from tooth to tooth, so the price is confirmed after your dentist has examined the tooth and reviewed X-rays. You'll know the cost before treatment begins.
Both can resolve an infected tooth, but the outcomes are different. Your dentist will explain which is suitable after examining the tooth.
Contact a dentist promptly if you have:
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp (the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels) from inside a tooth. The canals are cleaned, shaped and sealed so the natural tooth can be kept.
The cost depends on which tooth is affected, how many canals it has, how complex the infection is and whether a crown is needed afterwards. Contact our Al Rigga clinic by WhatsApp or phone for the current price — costs are explained before treatment begins.
Root canal treatment is normally carried out under local anaesthetic, and it is often done to relieve the pain caused by an infected tooth. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is common. Experiences vary, so tell your dentist if you feel discomfort.
Some root canals are completed in one appointment, while others need more than one visit, depending on the tooth and the infection. Your dentist will explain the plan after examining the tooth and X-rays.
Not always. Back teeth and teeth that have lost a lot of structure often benefit from a crown to protect them. Your dentist will advise whether a crown or a filling is the right final restoration.
Keeping your natural tooth is often preferred where it can be saved. If a tooth is too damaged to restore, extraction may be recommended. The right choice can only be made after an examination.
An untreated infection inside a tooth does not heal on its own. It may spread, cause swelling or an abscess, and reduce the chance of saving the tooth. Seek a dental assessment promptly if you have symptoms.
Often used to protect a tooth after root canal treatment.
For decay that has not reached the nerve.
When a tooth cannot be saved.
Severe toothache, swelling or a dental abscess.
Ask about using your dental insurance.
How treatment costs are explained.
WhatsApp or call our Al Rigga clinic to arrange an examination. Your dentist will check whether root canal treatment is needed and explain the options and cost first.
