Being told you need root canal treatment can be worrying, but knowing what happens and why often makes it feel more manageable. This guide is for patients from Swiss Cottage, South Hampstead and the surrounding NW3 area who are considering treatment with us on Finchley Road.

Why root canal treatment is recommended

Inside each tooth is soft tissue, the pulp. If decay, a crack or repeated dental work allows bacteria to reach it, the pulp can become inflamed or infected. Root canal treatment removes the affected tissue, cleans and disinfects the canals, and seals them. The aim is to keep your own tooth rather than remove it.

Who carries it out?

Root canal treatment can be provided by general dentists. Some dentists complete further postgraduate training in endodontics, the area of dentistry concerned with the tooth pulp. Only dentists on the General Dental Council’s specialist list may call themselves specialists. If you would like to know a clinician’s training and GDC registration, just ask us. You can also check any dentist on the GDC online register.

What the appointment involves

• An assessment, usually with X-rays, to check whether the tooth can be saved.
• A local anaesthetic to numb the area. Most patients find the procedure similar to having a filling.
• A rubber sheet, called a dam, to keep the tooth clean and dry.
• One or more visits, depending on the tooth and the infection.

After treatment

Some tenderness for a few days is common. Back teeth often need a crown afterwards to protect them from fracture. Success rates are generally good, but outcomes vary and some teeth may need further treatment or, eventually, extraction. We will discuss the likely outlook for your tooth before you decide.

More detail is on our root canal treatments page. If you are in pain now, see our dental emergencies page.

Our practice is on Finchley Road, opposite Finchley Road Underground station (Jubilee and Metropolitan lines). Swiss Cottage (Jubilee line) and Finchley Road & Frognal (London Overground, Mildmay line) are the other nearby stations, which makes us easy to reach from South Hampstead, Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park, Hampstead, West Hampstead and St John’s Wood.

Contact Dental Wellness Finchley Road

Dental Wellness Finchley Road, 106 Finchley Rd, South Hampstead, London NW3 5JJ.

Call 020 3813 3848, message us on WhatsApp (07522 141064), email smile@dentalwellnessfinchleyroad.co.uk or book online.