Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment in Crewe
Root canal treatment removes infected or badly inflamed tissue from inside a tooth so the tooth can be kept. The area is numbed first. From £525 for a front tooth and £595 for a back tooth.
In pain now? Call the practice rather than using the form. Severe pain affecting your sleep or swelling needs urgent dental advice. If you cannot reach a dentist, contact NHS 111. Call 999 or go to A&E if swelling makes it difficult to breathe, speak or swallow, or affects your eye.
Why it is needed
What root canal treatment is for
Inside each tooth is soft tissue called the pulp. Deep decay, cracks or injury can cause it to become infected or inflamed beyond healing.
Why the pulp can become damaged
- Deep decay reaching the pulp
- Repeated treatment on the same tooth
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- Injury or a knock to the tooth
Signs worth getting checked
- Toothache, particularly when biting or lying down
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swelling of the gum or face
- A tooth that has darkened in colour
Not every toothache needs root canal treatment. An examination and X-rays show what is causing it.
The appointment
What happens during root canal treatment
The tooth is numbed first, then cleaned out and sealed from the inside.
-
Examination and X-raysYour dentist examines the tooth and takes X-rays to confirm what is happening inside it and to see the shape of the roots before starting.
-
Numbing the areaLocal anaesthetic is used to numb the tooth and surrounding area. Tell your dentist if you feel pain so they can pause and check the anaesthetic.
-
Removing the pulpThe inflamed or infected tissue is removed from inside the tooth using fine instruments.
-
Cleaning and shaping the canalsThe canals inside the root are cleaned, disinfected and shaped before they are sealed.
-
Sealing and restoringOnce the canals are ready, they are sealed with a filling material, with a temporary filling in between if there is more than one appointment. The tooth is then restored with a filling or a crown.
Treatment options
Root canal treatment or removing the tooth
When the tissue inside a tooth is badly damaged there are two routes: root canal treatment, or taking the tooth out.
-
Keeping the tooth
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment cleans and seals the inside of the tooth with the aim of keeping your natural tooth in place.
-
Removing the tooth
Extraction
Extraction removes the tooth and leaves a gap. Depending on where it is, the gap can be left or filled with a bridge, denture or implant.
The examination and X-rays show whether the tooth has a reasonable chance of being saved. If extraction is the better option, your dentist will say why.
What it costs
How much does root canal treatment cost in Crewe?
Back teeth often have more canals and can take longer to treat, which is why their starting fee is higher. Your individual cost is confirmed after an examination and X-rays.
Private fees
| Root canal treatment, front tooth | from £525 |
|---|---|
| Root canal treatment, back tooth | from £595 |
| Dental crown, often recommended afterwards | from £650 |
| Tooth extraction, if the tooth cannot be saved | from £195 |
Worth knowing
The crown is a separate cost
A root-treated tooth is often weaker than it was, so a crown is often recommended to protect it, particularly a back tooth. Crowns are charged separately, from £650.
See the fee guideSpreading the cost
Finance options
Treatment costing £350 or more may be eligible for finance arranged with Chrysalis Finance. Finance is subject to status and affordability.
How finance worksYour dentist will check it suits you at the assessment, and results vary from person to person. You get a written estimate for the root canal and any crown before treatment begins.
Common questions
Root canal treatment questions
Is root canal treatment painful?
The tooth and surrounding area are numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment. Tell your dentist if you feel discomfort so they can check the anaesthetic. Some tenderness afterwards is common and should gradually settle; contact the practice if it is severe, worsening or does not improve.
How much does root canal treatment cost?
Private root canal treatment starts from £525 for a front tooth and from £595 for a back tooth. A crown, if you need one, is from £650. See our private fee guide.
How many appointments will I need?
It depends on the tooth and how many canals it has. Some are finished in one visit, others take two or more, and you will know the expected number before you start.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
Often, yes. A tooth that needs root canal treatment has usually already lost structure to decay, damage or earlier fillings, and a crown protects what is left, particularly on a back tooth. Your dentist will tell you at the assessment whether yours needs one.
How successful is root canal treatment?
It depends on how much tooth is left, the condition and shape of the roots, the bone around them and how the tooth is restored afterwards. Your dentist will go through the likely outlook for your tooth, and the alternatives, before you decide.
Could I just have the tooth taken out instead?
Yes. Extraction is the alternative, from £195. It leaves a gap, which can be left or filled with a bridge, denture or implant, and the cost of filling it is worth weighing against the cost of keeping the tooth.
Book an assessment for tooth pain
Toothache, lingering sensitivity or swelling needs looking at, and we have been doing that on Hungerford Road since 1982. Request an appointment and your dentist will examine the tooth, take X-rays and tell you the cause and the cost. If you are in pain now, please call rather than wait for a form reply.
