Why Root Canal Treatment May Be Needed
The pulp inside a tooth can become infected or inflamed for a number of reasons, including deep decay, a cracked or damaged tooth, or a tooth that's had previous treatment that has since failed. Left untreated, this kind of infection doesn't generally resolve on its own and can lead to further problems, including the possible loss of the tooth.
What Root Canal Treatment Generally Involves
Treatment generally involves accessing the inside of the tooth, removing the infected or inflamed pulp, and cleaning and shaping the space inside the root before it's filled and sealed. Local anaesthetic is generally used to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
How This Differs from Other Restorative Options
Root canal treatment is specifically about addressing infection inside a tooth, rather than repairing surface damage — this is different from a filling or an inlay/onlay, which address decay or wear without an infection inside the tooth. Where a tooth can't reasonably be saved, extraction and replacement — for example with a bridge, denture or implant — would be discussed as an alternative.
Assessment and Planning
Assessment generally includes an examination and X-rays to understand the extent of the infection and the shape of the root canal, which helps determine whether root canal treatment is likely to be appropriate for your tooth.
What to Expect in General Terms
Root canal treatment generally takes place over two or more appointments. Once the canal has been cleaned, shaped and filled, the tooth usually needs a filling or a crown to protect and restore it — see Dental Fillings and Dental Crowns for those follow-on options.
Considerations and Limitations
Root canal treatment aims to save the tooth, but this isn't guaranteed in every case — sometimes the infection returns, or the tooth may still need to be removed despite treatment. As with any dental procedure, there are general risks your dentist would discuss with you individually. Outcomes vary between individuals, and no specific result or timeframe is promised here.
Aftercare
You may not have full feeling in the treated area for some hours afterwards, while any anaesthetic wears off. Beyond that, root canal-treated teeth are generally cared for like any other, alongside the follow-on filling or crown your dentist recommends.
Related Treatments
A root canal-treated tooth generally needs a filling or crown afterwards — see Dental Fillings and Dental Crowns. Where a tooth can't be saved, see Dental Bridges, Dentures or our Dental Implants pages for replacement options.
General information only — every treatment decision follows an individual clinical assessment.