What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Marylebone Smile Clinic provides root canal treatment for simple cases. For more complex cases, we would recommend seeing a root canal specialist, or endodontist.
Root canal treatment involves removing the nerve and pulp tissue from the tooth in order to make it safe, and to save the tooth from otherwise having to be removed. It involves several stages.
The Stages of Root Canal Treatment
Stage 1: X-rays and planning
Consultations are critical to understand the diagnosis for the tooth before actually planning a root canal treatment. This ensures safety.
Stage 2: Accessing and disinfecting the root canal
The next step is to access the root canal. This is done under local anaesthetic and involves removing the nerve and pulp tissue and disinfecting the area, both mechanically and chemically. The nerve system is liable to infection, which is why it needs to be chemically disinfected in order to make it safe.
Stage 3: Filling the root canal and restoring the tooth
The next stage depends on whether the tooth was infected beforehand. If the tooth is not infected, it can proceed to being filled with a root canal filling material called GP, or gutta percha. This is a rubber-based material that shows up on an x-ray, which shows us the extent of the root canal filling so that we can be precise and finish the treatment at the end of the tooth, neither longer nor shorter. We also use a sealant, which flows around the filling and into the accessory canals, to ensure that the root canal system is sealed.
Restoring the tooth is the part that people often neglect, which is to protect the tooth after root canal treatment. The most important thing is a seal around the tooth, so that the root canal system does not get reinfected. This can often involve a cuspal coverage restoration, such as an onlay or a crown. The crown protects the tooth and restores it aesthetically, which matters because root canal treated teeth sometimes get dark and become an aesthetic problem. The treatment as a whole therefore restores form, function and aesthetics.
Typically, the process takes 2 to 3 weeks, over the three stages.
Choosing Your Dentist
There are various instruments involved in root canal treatment, which can influence the overall process for you and the cost. Be aware of these, and make sure your dentist is knowledgeable and able to use them carefully. Look for before and after cases, and make sure you can trust your dentist to use the relevant procedures to carry out the treatment safely.
Risks of Root Canal Treatment
There are certain risks with root canal treatment, such as:
- Inhalation of materials
- Injury to tissue from the chemicals involved
- Trauma from sharp instruments
- Splitting of the tooth because of over-aggressive preparation
These can cause damage to the point where it may be necessary to have the tooth removed.
Saving the Tooth or Replacing It
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you would like to save the natural tooth and attempt a root canal treatment, or to remove the tooth and replace it with an implant, bridge or denture. A natural tooth is often better than a prosthetic tooth, even if it is compromised and has had root canal treatment.
Remember to discuss this with your dentist, or give us a call at Marylebone Smile Clinic and speak to one of our expert team to get an idea of what a root canal treatment might involve for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are root canal treatments dangerous?
No, they are not dangerous for our health, despite popular campaigning in documentaries. Having dead tissue in the body is not a concern, as we already have this, from enamel to hair to nails. However, we must ensure that the area is free from bacteria and cannot become infected. That is where the root canal sealant comes in.
Is root canal treatment painful?
If a tooth is already painful, root canal treatment can be painful when actually treating it. However, if the tooth is not infected, treatment tends to be painless because the tooth is anaesthetised with a local anaesthetic.
Is root canal treatment done under rubber dam isolation?
Absolutely, yes. It should and must be done under rubber dam, to protect you from inhalation injuries and from injuries caused by hypochlorite and other chemicals used during the process.
What is the cost of root canal treatment?
It ranges from an NHS Band 2 to 3 treatment, at approximately £250, all the way up to £1,495 per tooth at a clinic like Marylebone Smile Clinic, where our team have extensive training in root canal treatment and in making teeth safe.
Who is better, an endodontist or a general dentist, for root canal treatment?
This depends on which stage of the root canal treatment you are at. For the technical process of removing the root canal tissue and disinfecting it, an endodontist is undoubtedly the best person in the field. For restoring the tooth to a natural aesthetic form and function, a general dentist or cosmetic dentist will typically be better.
You may therefore have a collaboration between two dentists to give you an ideal result. Alternatively, if your tooth is at the front of the mouth, you may well be able to have the treatment done entirely by a general or cosmetic dentist. We find that the overall success rate for general dentistry doing endodontics is approximately 85 to 90% across the UK.
Dentist at Marylebone Smile Clinic and an Accredited member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
GDC number: 258353. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026