Face 
Dentistry The words “root canal treatment” describe something most people would rather not think too deeply about.
But not knowing what will happen can make treatment seem much more intimidating than understanding it.
Root canal treatment is a sequence of carefully planned stages.
In simple terms, your clinician needs to reach the inside of the tooth, remove affected pulp tissue, clean and prepare the root canal system, fill it and make sure the tooth is appropriately restored afterwards.
The precise process varies according to the tooth and your individual circumstances.
Here is what usually happens.
Treatment starts with diagnosis.
Your dentist or endodontist needs to understand:
Assessment may involve an examination, dental X-rays and tests on the tooth.
In selected cases, additional imaging may be helpful.
Not necessarily.
CBCT produces three-dimensional information about teeth and surrounding structures.
It can be useful in some endodontic cases, particularly where additional information is required for diagnosis or treatment planning.
It isn’t something every root canal patient automatically needs.
At Evolve, CBCT scanning is available when clinically appropriate.
Root canal treatment is normally performed under local anaesthetic.
This numbs the tooth and surrounding area.
Your clinician will allow the anaesthetic to work and check that you are comfortable before beginning.
Worried about this part? Read: Does root canal treatment hurt?
Your clinician will usually place a small protective sheet called a rubber dam around the tooth.
It might look unusual if you haven’t seen one before.
Rubber dam serves several purposes, including isolating the tooth from saliva and helping protect your mouth while treatment is carried out.
Only the tooth being treated is exposed through the sheet.
Your clinician creates an opening in the tooth to reach the pulp chamber and root canals.
Teeth vary considerably.
Some have relatively straightforward canal systems, while others have multiple canals, curves or more complex internal anatomy.
Understanding and managing this anatomy is an important part of endodontic treatment.
Affected pulp tissue is removed.
Small instruments are then used to clean and shape the root canal system.
The canals are also irrigated with appropriate solutions during treatment.
The aim is to prepare the root canal system so that it can subsequently be filled.
This is a detailed stage of treatment because the structures involved can be extremely small.
A dental operating microscope provides magnification and illumination of the tooth.
At Evolve, Specialist Endodontist Dr Alex Brett carries out his endodontic treatment using a dental operating microscope.
This helps him see and work within the small structures of the tooth.
It can be particularly useful in more complex treatment and retreatment.
The microscope is a clinical tool – it doesn’t guarantee a particular treatment outcome.
Once the root canal system has been appropriately prepared, the canals are filled and sealed.
Depending on the treatment plan, this may happen at the same appointment or a later one.
A temporary restoration may be used between appointments.
Root canal treatment deals with what is happening inside the tooth.
But the tooth also needs to function afterwards.
It therefore needs an appropriate restoration.
Depending on the tooth and how much tooth structure remains, this might involve:
The NHS notes that a crown may sometimes be needed after root canal treatment.
Your dentist or endodontist will explain what is recommended in your case.
That depends on your treatment plan.
If you’re seeing Alex specifically for specialist endodontic treatment, he will manage the endodontic aspect of your care.
The final restoration may be provided at Evolve or by your own dentist, depending on the agreed plan.
If another dentist has referred you, the intention isn’t to take over your general dental care.
We’ll communicate appropriately so that your ongoing care can continue with your usual dentist.
There isn’t one standard appointment length.
The NHS advises that root canal treatment commonly requires two or more appointments lasting around one to two hours, although appointments can sometimes be longer.
The actual time depends on factors including:
Read: How long does root canal treatment take?
Sometimes the full complexity of a tooth becomes clearer during assessment or treatment.
If something is found that materially changes the treatment options, your clinician should explain it to you.
The important principle is that treatment shouldn’t become an unexplained journey where you no longer understand what is happening.
You should have the opportunity to understand significant findings and what they mean for your options.
Some teeth require additional procedures.
Specialist endodontic care at Evolve includes:
You won’t need these simply because you’re having root canal treatment.
They are available when appropriate to the problem being treated.
Your mouth may remain numb for a while.
The tooth and surrounding tissues can sometimes feel tender afterwards.
You’ll receive appropriate aftercare instructions.
The tooth may also require further restorative treatment if this hasn’t already been completed.
Read: What happens after root canal treatment?
Follow the instructions given by your clinician. In particular, take care while your mouth remains numb and follow any advice relating to a temporary restoration.
Some treatment requires multiple stages or additional time. The number of appointments depends on the individual tooth and treatment required.
It isolates the tooth from the mouth while treatment is being carried out and is an important part of endodontic treatment.
No. The tooth roots remain. Treatment is carried out within the root canal spaces inside them.
No. The appropriate restoration depends on the tooth and your individual circumstances.
It explains what treatment means, what to expect, specialist care and the questions worth asking before you decide.
Download the guide
If you’ve been referred for specialist care – or would like to self-refer – you can speak to the Evolve team about an assessment with Dr Alex Brett, Specialist Endodontist.
Speak to our team about an endodontic assessment
For further independent information, see the NHS information about root canal treatment.
Electric or manual toothbrush - which is better?
It`s one of those dental questions where almost everyone has an opinion.
But does buying an electric toothbrush automatically mean you`re doing a better job?
Richard tackles the question.
Whichever toothbrush you use, how you brush matters enormously - so don`t panic if there`s nothing rechargeable sitting beside your bathroom sink.
Now we`re curious...
Clear aligners or fixed braces - which is better?
Which is better - clear aligners or fixed braces?
Neither.
At least, not until we know more about you.
The right orthodontic treatment depends on your teeth, what you`d like to change, your lifestyle and a number of clinical considerations.
For some people, clear aligners can be a great option. For others, fixed braces may be more appropriate.
So rather than starting with:
“Which braces do you want?”
We`d much rather start with:
“What would you like to change about your smile?”
Swipe through to understand some of the differences.
💚 £338 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
We had such a lovely time at our Macmillan Coffee Morning last week. ☕🍰
A huge thank you to everyone who popped into the practice, enjoyed a slice of cake, had a chat and made a donation. It was wonderful to see so many of our patients, friends and members of the local community getting involved, and we were genuinely touched by everyone’s generosity.
Together, you helped us raise an amazing £169.
And we’re delighted to share that Carol has very generously matched every pound raised, bringing our final total to…
🥁 £338 for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
Thank you to our brilliant team for baking, organising and keeping the cake table well stocked, and to every single person who helped make the day such an enjoyable one.
Days like this remind us just how lovely the community around Evolve really is. 💚
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #EvolveDentistry #PortisheadCommunity
Being shortlisted for Team of the Year means a lot to us, but not because of the trophy.
It’s because dentistry is never the work of one person.
It’s the nurse who notices you’re nervous before you’ve said a word. The reception team member who remembers the conversation you had last time. The clinician who takes time to explain something again. The person behind the scenes making sure your visit runs smoothly.
Those small things happen every day at Evolve, and they only happen because people care about the experience we create together.
So being a finalist gives us a lovely excuse to say something we probably don’t say often enough: we’re incredibly proud of this team.
#PrivateDentistryAwards #TeamOfTheYear #DentalTeam #EvolveDentistry
You might notice a familiar face missing from Evolve for a little while… 💚
Carol is heading to Zambia with SmileStar, a dental charity providing free dental care to communities with limited access to treatment.
In this video, Carol shares a little more about where she’s going, what she’ll be doing while she’s there and why she wanted to be part of the trip.
It’s going to be a very different couple of weeks away from the practice, and we’re incredibly proud to see Carol giving her time and skills to support SmileStar’s work.
We’ll be sharing a little more from her trip when we can, but for now, we’ll let Carol tell you all about it in her own words. 💚
Safe travels, Carol. We can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re home!
#EvolveDentistry #SmileStar #Zambia #Dentistry #Portishead
🍰 Come and join us today! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!
We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome
Come hungry! 😋
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
BannerText_Seraphinite Accelerator
