What Happens During Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, fills and seals the root canals so the tooth can be kept. For anyone booked in or considering it, this guide explains the usual stages and what you may notice, from numbing to any second visit. At Deepcar Dental Care, treatment typically takes 1 to 2 visits.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, the practice's principal dentist, reviewed this page. He is a General Dental Practitioner registered with the General Dental Council, number 301711, and his qualifications are BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds), PG Dip Implant Dentistry and PG Cert Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry.
What happens during root canal treatment?
During root canal treatment, the tooth is usually numbed, the infected pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed.
The pulp is the soft tissue in the centre of a tooth that holds its nerve and blood supply, running down a narrow canal inside each root (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust). Root canal treatment is a type of endodontic treatment. The stages below follow NHS and British Endodontic Society descriptions in general, and your own treatment may differ.
How many appointments does root canal treatment take?
Root canal treatment may take more than one appointment: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says complex or heavily infected teeth may need more than one.
At Deepcar Dental Care, root canal treatment typically takes 1 to 2 visits. It is carried out by a dentist with a special interest in root canal treatment.
What should you do before the appointment?
Before root canal treatment, eat as normal and take your usual medicines unless told otherwise, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust advises.
Tell your dentist about any latex allergy before treatment. If you feel nervous, our page on care for anxious patients explains the practice's approach.
How is the tooth numbed?
The tooth is usually numbed with a local anaesthetic injection, and at Deepcar Dental Care topical numbing gel is applied before every injection.
NHS guidance says you stay awake but should not feel pain. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust notes that a very inflamed nerve can be harder to numb, and NHS Lothian that a top-up may be needed, so tell your dentist if you feel pain at any point.
Afterwards, you may have no feeling in your jaw and face for several hours, and NHS guidance advises being careful not to bump or knock your mouth. Our page on whether root canal treatment hurts covers comfort.
What is the rubber dam, and what will you notice?
A rubber dam is a thin sheet placed over the tooth.
The rubber dam keeps the area dry, keeps saliva out and protects your airway (NHS Lothian), and stops instruments and cleaning solutions being swallowed or breathed in (British Endodontic Society). The society advises telling the dentist or nurse if you notice a bad taste, because the seal may need adjusting.
At Deepcar Dental Care, rubber dam is used routinely.
How does the dentist reach the root canals?
To reach the canals, the dentist drills an opening, the access cavity, through the tooth or a filling or crown (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust). The infected pulp is then removed (NHS).
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust notes that a full diagnosis is sometimes only possible once the tooth is open, and extraction may be advised if too little tooth structure is left.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
How are the root canals cleaned and shaped?
The root canals are cleaned and shaped with fine files while a disinfecting solution washes them through, a step called irrigation.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust calls the wash dental bleach, and the British Endodontic Society names sodium hypochlorite as one such solution. Leeds adds that X-rays are taken to check the length of the canals.
How are the root canals filled?
The cleaned root canals are filled (obturation), usually with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material, and a sealer, to stop bacteria getting back in (British Endodontic Society).
NHS Lothian guidance says a final X-ray then checks the quality of the root filling.
What is a temporary filling for?
In general, a temporary filling may seal the tooth between appointments when root canal treatment takes more than one visit (NHS).
NHS Lothian guidance describes a medicated dressing placed in the root canals under the temporary filling.
What happens at a second appointment?
In general, at a second appointment the temporary filling and dressing come out, and the root canals are filled and sealed once they are clean.
Guidance from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board says the tooth is often numbed again, with an injection at the start of each session. After the root filling, NHS guidance says a crown may be needed if the tooth was badly infected, and our page on why a root-filled tooth may need a crown explains why.
Where a crown is needed after root canal treatment at Deepcar Dental Care, it is placed soon after where the tooth is at higher risk, or after around 3 months to let the tooth settle, decided case by case.
What will you feel during root canal treatment?
Generally, pain during root canal treatment is rare, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says, and it invites its patients to bring headphones for comfort.
In general, NHS guidance says root canal appointments may last 1 to 2 hours, or sometimes longer. You need to keep your mouth wide open during each session, and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board notes a rubber mouth prop can help if your jaw muscles get tired.
When should you speak to your dentist after root canal treatment?
Speak to your dentist if pain or swelling worsens after root canal treatment, painkillers do not help, or you have a high temperature. If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, NHS guidance says to call 111 or visit 111 online.
Some soreness is expected after root canal treatment. NHS guidance says the area may feel swollen and sore but should get better in a couple of weeks, and paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust reports that about 1 to 5% of people have a flare-up with increasing pain or swelling 3 to 4 days later, which may need antibiotics.
NHS guidance on toothache and dental abscesses says to call 999 or go to A&E if:
- the area around your eye or your neck is swollen
- you are finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
- you have a swollen or painful eye, or suddenly start having problems with your eyesight
- you have a lot of swelling in your mouth
- you are finding it hard to open your mouth
Do not drive to A&E: ask someone to drive you, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Our guide to recovery after root canal treatment covers aftercare.
Where can you read more about root canal treatment?
Our main guide to treating an infected tooth explains why root canal treatment can save a tooth that might otherwise need to be taken out.
Equipment on site at Deepcar Dental Care includes a rotary endodontic system, an apex locator and digital X-rays, and our page on rubber dam, rotary instruments and apex location explains what each one is.
Root canal treatment is part of repairing and rebuilding damaged teeth, the area of dentistry that includes repairing damaged teeth so they can be kept rather than replaced with an implant.
Frequently asked questions
Can root canal treatment be done in one visit?
Yes, root canal treatment can be finished in one visit in some cases, with the canals sealed straight after cleaning. A 2022 Cochrane review of 47 studies found no evidence either approach is more effective, but more people reported pain in the first week after one visit. Speak to your dentist if pain worsens or painkillers do not help.
Can you have root canal treatment under sedation?
Yes, root canal treatment can be carried out under sedation at Deepcar Dental Care. Sedation is available in house on request for adults aged 18 and over, and a separate pre-assessment appointment checks whether it suits you. You need an escort for the whole day. Our page on sedation for nervous patients explains how it works.
Is a root filling the same as an ordinary filling?
No, a root filling fills the narrow canals inside the roots, while an ordinary filling or a crown restores the tooth above them. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says a new filling, crown or onlay will likely be needed afterwards, and that the success of the treatment depends on this final seal.
Book a consultation.
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You can contact Deepcar Dental Care online or by phone, and the practice is open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
The practice is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH. It is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible, with free parking directly outside. Root canal treatment is from £450 on the current fee list. Our restorative cost page explains what it costs in more detail, and you can read our patient reviews.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
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Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
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