Restorative dentistry
Root canal treatment
Few aches are quite as relentless as the one that sets in when infection or deep decay reaches the living tissue inside a tooth. A root canal is how we clear that infection out and settle the pain, so you keep your own tooth rather than lose it. For all its fearsome reputation, the treatment itself is calm and comfortable; the pain people dread is almost always the infection they walk in with, not the procedure that puts it right.
Who needs a root canal
You're likely a candidate if you have a tooth with deep decay, a large old filling, or a crack that's let bacteria reach the nerve. The tell-tale signs are a lingering toothache, pain that wakes you or worsens when you bite, sensitivity to hot and cold that won't settle, a darkening tooth, or a tender bump on the gum. The only way to be sure is a proper look and an X-ray, which shows us exactly what's happening at the root. If a tooth genuinely can't be saved we'll tell you honestly and talk through replacing it, but wherever we realistically can, keeping your natural tooth is the better option.
Why saving the tooth is worth it
Nothing replaces a natural tooth quite as well as the real thing. Keeping it maintains your natural bite, stops the neighbouring teeth drifting into the gap, and avoids the bigger cost and effort of an implant or bridge down the line. A root canal treats the infection at its source, which also protects the bone around the tooth and stops the problem spreading. In short, it's usually the most conservative, tooth-preserving way out of a painful situation.
Sore tooth keeping you up? and let's get you comfortable.
How long it takes
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth. Front teeth have a single canal and are quicker; back molars have several and take a little longer. If a crown is recommended afterwards (it usually is), that's a separate follow-up appointment once things have settled. We'll map the full sequence out for you at the start so you know exactly what's involved and when.
Afterwards
The tooth and jaw may feel a little tender for a day or two. Simple pain relief handles it, and it settles quickly. Go gently with harder foods and chew on the other side until any tenderness eases. The ache you came in with usually lifts once the infection's dealt with. If it's still sore after a few days, give us a bell.
Your visit
What to expect
- 01
Diagnose
We examine the tooth and take an X-ray to see what's going on.
- 02
Clean & seal
Under local anaesthetic, the infected tissue is removed and the canal cleaned and sealed.
- 03
Protect
A root-treated tooth becomes more brittle, so we'll usually recommend a crown to protect it.
Common questions
Questions, answered
It's done under local anaesthetic. Most people compare it to a large filling, and the pain you arrive with usually eases once we've treated it.
Usually, to stop the more brittle tooth fracturing.
A well-restored root-treated tooth can last many years with good care.
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better option where we can. We'll talk you through both.
Ready for a super smile?
Whether it's been six months or six years, you're welcome here. New patients, whānau and emergencies, always.