Expert Root Canal & Endodontic Treatment in East Finchley

You may need endodontic treatment if the soft tissue inside your tooth's root canal, known as the pulp, becomes inflamed or infected. This often happens due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a crack in the tooth, or trauma. Key signs include a severe, persistent toothache, sharp pain when chewing, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, tooth discoloration, or tender, swollen gums near the problem tooth. Many patients are referred to us by their general dentist when a case requires the advanced equipment and focused experience found at a dedicated endodontic practice like ours in East Finchley.

Understanding the process can ease anxiety. First, you'll have a 60-minute consultation where we use digital imaging and a 3D CBCT scan to diagnose the issue precisely. The treatment itself, performed under local anaesthetic, typically takes a single visit of 60-90 minutes. During the procedure, Dr. Reddy will access the inside of your tooth, remove the infected pulp, and carefully clean and shape the root canals using a high-magnification dental microscope. The canals are then filled and sealed. Finally, you'll be scheduled for a follow-up and referred back to your general dentist to have a permanent crown placed to protect the tooth. Most patients report feeling pressure but no pain during the treatment.

A successful outcome depends on meticulous cleaning of the root canal system. We use dental operating microscopes in every procedure. This provides up to 25x magnification, allowing Dr. Reddy to see and treat fine details, like tiny accessory canals, that are invisible to the naked eye. This technology significantly improves the long-term success rate, which stands at 85 to 95 percent for initial root canal treatments. For example, a recent patient from East Finchley was referred for a complex upper molar with four canals. The microscope helped locate and clean a tiny hidden canal, preventing future infection and saving a tooth that might otherwise have been lost.

After your treatment, your tooth and the surrounding gum tissue may feel a little sensitive for a few days. This is a normal part of healing. Days 1 to 3: Expect mild to moderate tenderness, which is easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen. Stick to soft foods and avoid chewing directly on the treated tooth. Week 1: Discomfort should gradually disappear. You can resume your normal diet but be gentle with the tooth until your permanent crown is fitted. Maintain good oral hygiene with gentle brushing and flossing. Red flags during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tue/Thu 11-7): Contact us if you have severe pain not relieved by medication, swelling inside or outside your mouth that worsens after day 3, an allergic reaction to medication, or if your temporary filling comes out.

Our goal is to save natural teeth when possible. The main alternative to root canal treatment is tooth extraction. If the tooth is removed, you would need a replacement to prevent shifting and restore chewing. Options include a dental implant or a fixed bridge. An implant replaces the tooth root with a titanium post, while a bridge uses crowns on adjacent teeth to support a false tooth. These options tend to be more invasive and costly than saving your natural tooth with endodontic treatment. We will discuss all viable options with you during your consultation.

To ensure you receive the best care, whether at our East Finchley practice or another provider, here are important questions to ask: Do you use a dental operating microscope for all root canal treatments? What is your success rate for this type of procedure? How many appointments will the treatment require? What is the total cost, and does it include the consultation and all necessary x-rays? What happens if the treatment fails in the future? Will I need a crown after the treatment, and is that a separate cost?

As a private practice limited to endodontics, we do not offer NHS treatment. The cost of root canal treatment depends on case complexity and which tooth is affected. For example, molars have more canals and are harder to treat than front teeth. We provide a full, transparent breakdown of costs after your initial consultation and 3D scan, with no hidden fees. A recent patient needing retreatment of a previously failed root canal from another clinic paid more, but this complex work saved their tooth from extraction. We accept private dental insurance from providers including Denplan, Max Bupa, and Cigna. Our team can help with the paperwork required for your claim.