Root canal treatment
Prices
| Services | Price |
|---|---|
| Front tooth including X-rays | £380.00 |
| Middle tooth (premolar) including X-rays | £420.00 |
| Back tooth (molar) including X-rays | £520.00 |
Why you may need a root treatment
Inside a tooth is a space that normally carries the nerves and blood vessels (the pulp) which keep the tooth alive.
If the pulp gets too inflamed it can end up dying off (inflammation can be caused by decay, a crack in a tooth, a very large filling or even gum disease).
If the nerves and blood vessels die this leaves an empty space inside the tooth.
Bacteria will then find their way into this space and because it is dead, your immune system cannot reach them. They live happily inside the tooth.
If they grow and multiply, they can then invade the bone under the tooth. This is an abscess.
If this happens quickly, there is a rapid pressure build up which can be very painful (an acute abscess).
If is slow the bone at the base of the tooth moves out of the way, the pressure doesn’t build, and it doesn’t get painful. But it has the potential to suddenly get acute and very painful at a later stage.
It is best to get rid of the bacteria so they cannot cause harm or pain. Antibiotics will not get inside the tooth where the bacteria live because the tooth is dead and has no blood supply anymore.
What is involved
Often, the first visit is getting access and possibly measuring the canal system and washing it, before drying it and dressing it with a temporary filling.
The second is usually filling the canal system and often placing a filling on top.
Sometimes a single visit is best.
Can I be referred to a specialist?
Yes, you can be referred to an Endodontist for treatment. A specialist will be more expensive than treatment carried out by a dentist. But they are experts.
It is useful if we refer you as we can send a report of what we have found including X-rays which may help the specialist.
Nothing lasts forever
The shape inside any tooth is very complicated and it is impossible to fill all the spaces. Normally we rely on filling enough so the body can cope with the small number of bacteria left.
Sometimes this isn’t possible, or teeth deteriorate with time. Usually on average you could expect an 80% chance that the tooth will last at least 5 years.
If you want to be 100% sure that the tooth will not cause trouble ever again then it is best to extract the tooth.
If you want to keep the tooth for as long as you possibly can, then consider root canal therapy.