Root canal treatment · Widney Dental, Knowle
Does a root canal hurt? Less than the toothache.
Root canal treatment takes the infected nerve out from inside a tooth, cleans the canals and seals them, so the pain stops and you keep the tooth. It is done numb, and should feel no different from an ordinary filling. Privately it is priced by the tooth, from £195 – £225 for a front tooth to £350 – £425 for a molar; on the NHS it is part of the Band 2 charge, £76.60.
★★★★★ 4.8 from 175 Google reviews · NHS and private
In short
Do I need a root canal?
You may, if a tooth aches for minutes after something hot or cold, throbs on its own or wakes you, hurts to bite on, has a swelling or a small spot on the gum beside it, or has turned darker than its neighbours. An infected nerve does not always hurt at first, though, so the answer comes from an x-ray and a few simple tests, not from the pain alone.
What it saves
When it keeps the tooth, and when it cannot.
Inside every tooth is the pulp, its nerve and blood supply. Once decay or an injury lets infection into the pulp, the pulp cannot heal, and the infection spreads down the roots. Root canal treatment is how the tooth is kept anyway.
It saves
- A tooth with an infected or dying nerve, from deep decay, a large old filling, a crack, or a knock.
- A tooth with an abscess, where pus has gathered at the root; it is drained and the source removed.
- A tooth that has darkened because its nerve has died, which needs treating even when it does not hurt.
- A broken tooth whose break has reached the nerve, when there is enough tooth left to rebuild.
When it is something else
- A tooth split down the root, or broken below the gum, cannot be saved; it is taken out, and the gap filled with a bridge, a denture or a dental implant.
- A tooth loose from gum disease needs the gums treated, not the nerve.
- A sensitive tooth that twinges and settles is usually not a nerve problem at all, and often needs only a filling or a desensitising treatment.
- A root filling that has failed can often be redone; a complicated one may be referred to an endodontist, a specialist in root canals, or treated with an apicectomy, a small operation at the root tip.
How it runs
Usually two visits, then the tooth is rebuilt.
Root canal treatment is skilled, careful work, and most courses of treatment take two or more visits.
- 1
The diagnosis
An x-ray to see the roots and any infection at their tips, and tests of how the tooth responds, so you know it is the nerve before anything starts.
- 2
The first visit
Numb, then the infected pulp is removed, any abscess drained, and the canals cleaned and shaped. A temporary filling goes in and the tooth is left to settle.
- 3
Between visits
The tooth may be tender to bite on for a few days; ordinary painkillers as the packet says cover it. Chew on the other side.
- 4
The second visit
The tooth is checked, and once the infection has cleared the canals are disinfected again and filled permanently, sealed to the tips of the roots.
- 5
The tooth rebuilt
With a filling, or with a crown: a root-filled tooth is more brittle, so a back tooth is usually crowned to stop it cracking.
What it is like
Numb throughout, tender for a few days.
The reputation comes from the toothache that sends people to the dentist, not from the treatment. Once the tooth is numb, root canal treatment feels much like having a filling: pressure, the sound of the instruments, and a long time with your mouth open, which is the hardest part. Afterwards there may be some tenderness, easing over a few days, and most people go back to work the same day or the next. If you dread it, intravenous sedation is available at £175 a session.
The practice puts the general success rate of root fillings at above 90%, depending on things like how long and how badly the tooth has been infected. In the past a root-filled tooth often darkened; with today’s techniques that usually does not happen, and if it does, there are treatments to restore its colour. After that, a root-treated tooth is looked after like any other: brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, sugar kept to mealtimes, and regular check-ups.
What it costs
By the tooth, on the NHS or privately.
Widney Dental treats NHS and private patients. On the NHS, root canal treatment is part of a Band 2 course of treatment, £76.60, which covers the examination, the x-rays and every visit of the root canal. If the tooth is crowned in the same course, the whole course is one Band 3 charge, £332.10. Privately, the price follows the tooth, because a molar has three or four canals where a front tooth has one. Under-18s, pregnant women and new mothers, and people on certain benefits pay nothing for NHS treatment.
NHS figures are England’s band charges as nhs.uk publishes them; private figures are Widney Dental’s fee guide, which prices an apicectomy as quoted. One band charge covers the whole course of treatment.
Keep it, or lose it
Root canal, or the tooth out.
Some people would rather have the tooth out, and that is a choice you can make. It is usually best to keep as many of your own teeth as you can, and the reason is what comes after the extraction: a gap, or the cost of filling it.
| Your own tooth | Cost here, privately | Visits | Afterwards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root canal and a crown | Kept | A molar: £350 – £425, and a crown at £450 – £550 | Two or more, then two for the crown | You chew on your own tooth, with nothing to get used to |
| Extraction, and nothing | Lost | £95 – £125 | One | A gap; the teeth beside it can lean into it and the bite can change |
| Extraction, then a bridge | Replaced | A three-unit bridge: £1,500 – £1,650 | Two, after the gum has healed | Fixed, but the teeth either side are crowned to hold it |
| Extraction, then an implant | Replaced | One implant tooth: £1,700 – £2,250, plus the planning | Several, over months | Fixed, and the neighbouring teeth are left alone |
On the NHS the comparison is simpler still: root canal treatment and an extraction are both Band 2, £76.60.
Who does it
A dentist with a keen interest in root canals.
Dr Damian Panchal graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2018 with awards in restorative and conservative dentistry, and has since developed a particular interest in endodontics, the treatment of the inside of the tooth; he has published in peer-reviewed journals, and he involves his patients in every decision. Dr Sarah Lynn’s passion has always been restorative dentistry. For a particularly complicated tooth, referral to a specialist endodontist is sometimes the right course, and you will be told if it is.
- Dr Damian PanchalAssociate dentist · restorative dentistry and root canalsGDC 278735
- Dr Sarah LynnAssociate dentist · restorative dentistryGDC 6026
What patients say
In their own words.
Quality staff★★★★★Brilliant dental surgery, friendly and caring staff who know what they are doing!
Great support for nervous patients★★★★★I have recently completed treatment for an implant at Widney Dental Care and although nervous at first and some initial discomfort at the beginning the whole process has been managed efficiently and professionally at all times. The care and attention to detail is second to none and the support during and after the treatment is reassuring. I am delighted with my implant.
For the whole family★★★★★My family and I have been receiving treatment at Widney Dental Care for a number of years. I am grateful for the level of care I have received at this practice.
Quality care worth travelling for★★★★★I find this a first-rate practice in every respect. Efficiently run including first-class patient care and treatment. Having moved out of the area several years ago and having full confidence in my dental care and treatment I still remain a patient being more than happy to travel some distance for my dental care.
Google review★★★★★Adam takes great pride in his work, treating the fillings like a work of art.
Questions
Asked before the first visit.
Does a root canal hurt?
No. It is done under local anaesthetic and should feel no different from having an ordinary filling. There may be some tenderness for a few days afterwards, which ordinary painkillers handle. The toothache before it is usually the worst part, and the treatment is what ends it.
How much does it hurt on a scale of 1 to 10?
The treatment itself, once the tooth is numb, is closer to the bottom of the scale than the top: most people describe pressure and a tired jaw, not pain. A tooth with a hot, swollen infection can take more anaesthetic to numb, which is one reason not to leave it until it is at its worst.
How much is a root canal privately?
At Widney Dental, £195 – £225 for a front tooth, £225 – £295 for a premolar and £350 – £425 for a molar, depending on the tooth. A back tooth usually needs a crown afterwards, £450 – £550 for porcelain. You are told the figure before anything starts.
How much is a root canal on the NHS?
It is part of Band 2, £76.60, for the whole course of treatment however many visits it takes. If a crown is made in the same course, the course is one Band 3 charge, £332.10. It is free if you are under 18, pregnant or a new mother, or on certain benefits.
What happens if I do not have it?
Once the pulp is infected it cannot heal, and the infection spreads through the root canals, eventually into an abscess. Leaving an infected tooth in the mouth is not recommended; the alternative to root canal treatment is having the tooth out.
Why do dentists push for a root canal?
Because it is the way to keep the tooth. The honest choice is between a root canal and an extraction, and the extraction is cheaper on the day but leaves a gap, or the cost of a bridge or an implant to fill it. You can choose the extraction; the dentist will make sure you know what follows.
How many visits does it take?
Most courses take two or more: the first to remove the infected pulp and clean the canals, and a later one to fill them permanently once the infection has cleared. The tooth is then rebuilt with a filling or a crown.
How many days rest do I need afterwards?
Usually none. Most people go back to work the same day or the next; the tooth may be tender to bite on for a few days, so chew on the other side until it settles.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Often, yes, on a back tooth. A tooth without its nerve is more brittle, and a crown protects what is left from cracking. A front tooth that is not heavily filled can often be restored with a filling instead.
What if the infection comes back?
Root canal treatment is usually very successful; the practice puts root fillings above 90% success, depending on the infection. If the infection returns, the treatment can sometimes be repeated, or the root tip treated with an apicectomy; if neither will work, the tooth is taken out.
Should I be nervous?
Most people are, and most say afterwards that it was easier than they feared. Tell reception you are nervous when you book; the dentist will explain each step, agree a stop signal with you, and intravenous sedation is available at £175 a session. How the practice helps nervous patients.
Where are you, and when are you open?
76 Widney Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 9AW. Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 6pm, Friday 8.30am to 5pm. If a tooth is hurting, call 01564 773080 early in the day, or request a call-back.
Aching tooth? Keep it. Ring.
Seen, numbed, and the infection out, so the pain stops and the tooth stays: £195 – £425 privately by the tooth, or £76.60 on the NHS.
Knowle, Solihull
B93 9AW
Friday 8.30am to 5pm