Expert Endodontic Care at Our East Finchley Practice

You may need a specialist in endodontics if you have certain symptoms or a complex case. The goal is to relieve pain and save a natural tooth with infected or inflamed pulp. Signs include a severe, persistent toothache, extreme sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts, discoloration of a tooth, or tender, swollen gums near a specific tooth. You should also seek this care if a general dentist has diagnosed a complex issue, such as a tooth with curved roots or a previous root canal that has failed and requires retreatment. Our East Finchley practice is equipped with dental operating microscopes and 3D CBCT scanning to handle these challenging cases effectively.

The process is straightforward and designed for your comfort. First, you have an initial forty five minute consultation, including a 3D CBCT scan to get a detailed view of your tooth’s root structure. Next, during the main treatment appointment, which typically takes sixty to ninety minutes, we numb the area with local anaesthetic. Dr. Reddy then uses a dental operating microscope to carefully remove the infected pulp, clean the inside of the root canals, and seal the space to prevent re infection. Finally, a temporary filling is placed, and you are referred back to your general dentist to fit a permanent crown to protect the tooth. Most patients report feeling only pressure, not pain, during the procedure.

A patient from Hampstead was referred with persistent pain in a tooth that had a root canal five years earlier. A standard X-ray was unclear, but our 3D CBCT scan showed a missed canal causing ongoing infection. With the high magnification of our operating microscope, Dr. Reddy located and treated the hidden canal. The patient’s pain resolved within two days, and the tooth was saved from extraction.

A 45-year-old from Muswell Hill arrived with a severe abscess on an upper molar. The tooth had four canals, one of which was calcified and hard to access. This type of case carries a higher risk of failure in non specialist hands. The precision of our equipment enabled careful navigation and cleaning of all canals, leading to a successful outcome with a high success rate.

After your treatment you may feel mild to moderate tenderness for two to three days as the anaesthetic wears off and the area heals. This can be managed with over the counter pain relief such as ibuprofen. Do not chew on the treated tooth until the final crown is in place. You can brush and floss normally, but be gentle around the area. With good oral hygiene and a protective crown, a root canal tooth can last a lifetime. Red flags that require immediate contact include severe and increasing pain after day three, visible swelling in or around the mouth, or a fever above thirty eight Celsius. For after hours emergencies you should go to A and E or call 111.

While our approach is to save the natural tooth whenever possible, the main alternative is tooth extraction. This removes the tooth but can lead to shifting teeth, bone loss, and chewing difficulties. The space would then need to be filled with a dental implant, bridge, or denture, which involves further procedures and costs. A dental implant, for example, starts from £2,500 not including the final crown. We will discuss the pros and cons to help you decide what works best for your health.

As a fully private practice, we do not offer NHS treatment. The cost of a root canal depends on the complexity and location of the tooth. Prices are discussed openly during your consultation with no hidden fees. The fee covers the consultation, 3D imaging, the procedure itself, and all follow-up appointments. We accept private dental insurance from major providers including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. Please bring your policy details to your appointment so we can help with any paperwork.

To choose what works for you, consider asking key questions whether you work with us or another practice in North London. Do you use a dental operating microscope and 3D CBCT scanning for all cases? What is your success rate for a tooth like mine? How many root canal treatments do you perform each year? Does the quoted fee include all parts of the treatment including imaging? What are the qualifications and experience of the dentist performing the treatment? What happens if the treatment fails?