Dental care - Root canal
Save the tooth.
End the pain.
Root Canal Treatment, endodontic therapy
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp tissue from inside a tooth, eliminating pain, stopping the spread of infection and preserving the tooth so extraction is not necessary.
95%
Success rate
1–2
Appointments
Tooth
Preserved
not extracted
Why treatment is needed
Infected pulp does not
resolve on its own.
Dental pulp, the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth, becomes infected through deep decay, a crack or trauma. Once infected, the pulp cannot heal. The infection spreads through the root canals toward the jawbone, where it forms an abscess if left untreated.
Root canal treatment is not the cause of pain, it is the solution to it. The procedure removes the infected tissue and the nerve, eliminating the source of pain permanently. The tooth is then sealed and typically crowned to restore full function.
Signs you may need treatment
When to seek
urgent assessment.
Root canal infections do not always present with severe pain. Any of the following warrants prompt dental assessment. Early treatment is simpler, faster and less costly than delayed intervention.
Severe or throbbing toothache
Persistent pain, particularly that worsens when lying down or with heat, is a common indicator of pulp infection or irreversible pulpitis.
Prolonged sensitivity to temperature
Sensitivity that lingers for more than a few seconds after the stimulus is removed suggests pulp involvement rather than simple dentinal sensitivity.
Swelling or facial swelling
Visible swelling of the gum, jaw or face indicates abscess formation, requiring urgent treatment. Do not delay if swelling is present.
Discolouration of a tooth
A tooth that has darkened following trauma may have a non-vital pulp, even without pain. X-ray assessment confirms whether treatment is required.
The procedure
What happens
during treatment.
01
Access & removal
Under local anaesthesia, the dentist opens the tooth and removes infected pulp tissue from the pulp chamber and root canals. The area is fully numb, no pain during treatment.
02
Cleaning & shaping
Root canals are precisely shaped using rotary instruments and disinfected with irrigating solutions to eliminate remaining bacteria. X-rays confirm complete canal preparation.
03
Sealing & restoration
Canals filled with gutta-percha and sealed. A crown is placed at the subsequent appointment to restore full strength, essential after root canal treatment to prevent fracture.
What's included
From diagnosis
to restored tooth.
Root canal treatment at German Select includes diagnostic X-rays, the full endodontic procedure, temporary restoration and, where indicated, the subsequent crown to protect the treated tooth.
Diagnostic X-ray and clinical assessment
Local anaesthesia, completely pain-free procedure
Pulp removal and full canal cleaning
Rotary endodontics, efficient and precise
Canal filling and coronal seal placed
Crown recommended and planned at same appointment
Ready to explore your options
No commitment required. Your coordinator responds within 24 hours and can answer any questions before you decide.
Questions
What patients
commonly ask.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
Root canal treatment has an undeserved reputation for being painful. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and you should not feel pain during treatment. Some post-operative sensitivity for 2–3 days is normal as the surrounding tissue settles. Most patients report that the relief from pre-treatment pain is immediate and significant.
How many appointments are needed?
Most root canal treatments are completed in 1–2 appointments. Simple single-rooted teeth are often treated in one session. Multi-rooted teeth or cases with significant infection may require a second appointment to confirm healing before final sealing. The subsequent crown requires a separate appointment, typically 1–2 weeks later.
Why not just extract the tooth?
Extraction solves the immediate problem but creates a long-term one: the gap allows adjacent teeth to shift, the jawbone beneath begins to resorb and a replacement (implant, bridge or denture) becomes necessary. Preserving a natural tooth is almost always the better long-term clinical and financial decision, a root-canal-treated tooth can function for decades when properly crowned.
What happens after root canal treatment?
A crown is placed over the treated tooth to protect it from fracture. Root-canal-treated teeth are more brittle than vital teeth and are at risk of cracking without full-coverage restoration. With a crown correctly placed, the treated tooth functions normally and can last as long as a natural tooth with good oral hygiene.
Save the tooth
before it's too late.
Early treatment is faster, simpler and more successful than delayed intervention. Contact us for priority assessment if you are in pain or concerned about a tooth.