Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a safe and effective way of saving a tooth that might otherwise need to be removed.
Treatment becomes necessary if the pulp of the tooth (housing its nerves and blood vessels) becomes infected or injured. This extends from the crown of the tooth down – through one or more ‘root canals’ – to the tip of the root.
Save your natural tooth with expert root canal care
Root canal treatment is a highly effective way to save a tooth that has become infected or severely damaged. Rather than removing the tooth, this procedure allows us to clean out the infection from the inside, seal the tooth, and restore it with a strong, natural-looking filling or crown. At our superbly equipped clinic in Thamesmead, South-East London, we use the latest techniques and technology to ensure your treatment is as comfortable, efficient, and stress-free as possible.
Many people associate root canal treatment with discomfort, but with modern methods and local anaesthetic, the procedure feels much like having a routine filling. It not only relieves pain caused by infection but also helps protect the tooth from further problems. Our experienced team will guide you through each step with care and clarity, helping you feel confident and at ease throughout your treatment.
Please note that the services shown on this page may differ for NHS-exempt patients.
Cheetan’s ‘What is root canal treatment?’ – VIDEO
Comfortable, effective treatment for infected teeth
Cheetan’s ‘Is root canal treatment painful?’ – VIDEO
Speak to our Experts
Talk to our patient care manager today to discuss the options available and to arrange your initial appointment.
Why patients trust Gallions Reach for their root canal treatment
With over 30 years of experience, Gallions Reach Dental Clinic has delivered expert dental care to more than 170,000 patients across Greenwich and South-East London. Many people choose us for their root canal treatment because we provide:
- A convenient location – We’re located just a short distance from Abbey Wood Station on the Elizabeth Line, around a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute bus ride away.
- State-of-the-art facilities – Our modern, fully refurbished clinic offers a calming, professional environment, designed to help patients feel at ease during their visit.
- An experienced and supportive team – Our dentists are highly trained in carrying out root canal treatments with care and precision. We’ll guide you through each step, offering reassurance and clear communication from your first consultation to your follow-up care.
- Comfortable, effective treatment – Using the latest techniques and technology, we aim to make root canal treatment as straightforward and comfortable as possible, helping to relieve pain and preserve your natural tooth with long-lasting results.
What is involved in root canal treatment?
Left untreated, infected pulp tissue, as well as being very painful, may also spread to surrounding bone, causing an abscess to form. Successful root canal treatment will quickly eliminate the pain and save your tooth – potentially for a lifetime.
Root canal treatment involves removing the inflamed pulp and then cleaning the root canal system to prevent infection from coming back. Once the root canal system has been cleaned, it is filled and sealed. A filling is then placed into the repaired tooth and a crown is then often required to protect the tooth from fracture.
Cheetan’s ‘What does root canal treatment involve?’ – VIDEO
Meet our endodontists
Click below for further details about our root canal specialists.
Chetan Morjaria
Endodontist
Tulsi Patel
Endodontist
Is root canal treatment painful?
How successful is root canal treatment?
In most cases, you can expect around a 90% success rate for your root canal treatment, and for it to last at least 4 years. Indeed they can often last a lifetime, though there are many variables which may affect this. For example if the root system is particularly complex or inaccessible, or if you fail to maintain an effective post-treatment oral health regime. Occasionally roots can crack and will need to be extracted, but this is a relatively infrequent complication.
Is root canal treatment expensive?
Because root canal work is relatively complex and demanding of a high level of dental expertise, it tends to cost considerably more than the average filling. The crown required to complete your restoration will represent a substantial element of the overall cost.
Is there an alternative to root canal treatment?
Once pulp has become infected, the tooth must either be treated and restored, or removed. This is to prevent both pain and the spread of potentially lethal bacteria. For most dentists and patients, the ideal is to retain your own teeth for as long as you can!
However if that tooth loss becomes inevitable, we can offer you the next best alternative to what nature provided – a dental implant. Nowadays these both look and function exactly like natural teeth, are generally straightforward to insert and should last a lifetime if properly looked after.
Frequently asked questions
Book your root canal consultation
If you’re experiencing toothache or have been told you may need a root canal, we’re here to help. Our skilled team can assess your symptoms, explain your treatment options, and provide expert care in a calm and supportive setting.
To book a consultation or find out more about root canal treatment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.