94 Greenwich High Road London SE10 8JE

Root Canal Treatment
Preserving your natural teeth

Preserving your natural teeth

Root Canal Treatment is the removal of the blood and nerve supply, or ‘pulp’ of a tooth. The removal is necessary if the pulp becomes infected as a result of injury or decay.

If root canal treatment is not done, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.

The procedure is carried out in the surgery under local anaesthetic, and typically requires one or two appointments.

What is Root Canal Treatment (RCT)?

Root canal treatment, also called ‘endodontics’, is the removal of a tooth’s nerve supply.

It is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth, called the ‘pulp’, is infected through decay or injury.

Signs and symptoms of infection

You may not feel any pain in the early stages of the infection. Sometimes an infection will not present with any symptoms at all. However, usually any or all of the following may be present:

  • Pain (anything from a dull ache to severe pain)
  • Discolouration or darkening of the tooth (which means the nerve is dying or has died)
  • Sensitivity
  • Tenderness when biting
  • Swelling or abscess
  • Pus leaking from the infected area
  • Fever
  • Nausea

What will happen without treatment?

If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth, causing an abscess (an inflamed area in which pus collects). Left untreated, this could lead to tooth loss.

How is treatment carried out?

Root Canal Treatment is carried out in the practice, under local anaesthetic.

The affected tooth is isolated using a special rubber sheet, to keep it clean and sterile while the procedure is carried out. The pulp of the tooth is then removed and the tooth is filled and sealed. A customised, laboratory made filling or crown is normally required to complete the procedure.

Dr Matthew Nolan has a special interest in endodontics and carries out most root canal treatments at the practice.

His surgery is equipped with a state-ofthe-art, high-powered microscope; this enables better visibility of the canals, improves detection of fractures and
generally means more precise work can be carried out.