General Dentistry
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment saves a tooth that would otherwise need to be removed — and gets rid of the pain for good.
Why it's needed
When the soft tissue inside a tooth (the pulp) becomes infected or inflamed — usually from deep decay or a crack — it needs to be removed to stop the pain and save the tooth.
Without treatment, the infection can spread, and the tooth usually has to be extracted.
What's involved
- The infected pulp is removed and the canal is cleaned and shaped
- The space is sealed to prevent reinfection
- A crown is usually fitted afterward to protect the weakened tooth
Is root canal treatment painful?
Done under local anaesthetic, the procedure itself shouldn't hurt — most people find it no worse than getting a filling. It's the infection beforehand that's painful, not the treatment.
What happens if I just have the tooth pulled instead?
That's an option, but it leaves a gap that can shift your other teeth over time — a root canal keeps your natural tooth in place.