Expert Tooth Nerve Treatment for West Finchley Patients

Seek urgent assessment if you have persistent symptoms. This is not a minor ache. It may signal irreversible pulpitis where the nerve is dying or infected. Signs include a severe throbbing toothache that keeps you up at night or worsens when you lie down. You may have prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts more than 30 seconds after the stimulus ends. You might notice swelling near the tooth, a small bump like an abscess, or the tooth looking darker than surrounding teeth. If you are in West Finchley, a same day assessment at our Finchley practice can confirm whether root canal treatment is the right step.

We aim for comfort and clarity. First, you have a 60 minute consultation with digital imaging and a 3D CBCT to diagnose. The treatment lasts typically 60-90 minutes and uses local anesthesia so you feel no pain. Dr. Reddy accesses the tooth, removes infected nerve tissue with a microscope, and cleans the root canals. The canals are sealed with a biocompatible material to prevent future infection. A follow-up is needed to fit a permanent crown to protect the tooth long term. The overall success rate is 85-95 percent, and the goal is to save the tooth rather than extract it.

After treatment you may feel some tenderness for a few days. In the first 24-48 hours manage pain with ibuprofen if needed. Eat soft foods and avoid chewing on the treated tooth until the crown is placed. You can brush and floss as usual but be gentle around the area. Watch for red flags: call during office hours if you have severe, increasing pain after day three, swelling that spreads to the face, fever, or if the temporary filling comes out. For emergencies outside hours, call 111 or go to the nearest A&E.

A West Finchley patient called us with intense throbbing pain in a lower molar that kept him up for two nights. He works in the city and needed fast relief. We scheduled a same day emergency assessment. The 3D scan confirmed irreversible pulpitis. We completed the root canal treatment in a single 90 minute visit. He reported immediate relief from the pressure and was able to return to work the next day with only mild tenderness, managed with ibuprofen.

A patient was referred from a Muswell Hill dentist because a tooth that had a root canal years ago became reinfected. Using our dental operating microscope, Dr. Reddy identified a tiny missed canal that caused the ongoing infection. The retreatment saved the tooth and her existing crown, avoiding a more complex extraction and implant.

The only definitive alternative to treating an infected tooth nerve is extraction. It may be necessary if the tooth is too damaged to save, but we aim to preserve your natural teeth. Extraction can cause teeth to shift, affect your bite, and lead to bone loss. Replacing the tooth with an implant or bridge is possible but involves more procedures and higher costs, starting at around £2,500 for an implant with a crown. Root canal treatment is usually the more conservative and cost effective option for long term tooth retention.

To make an informed choice, ask these questions of any dentist, whether here or elsewhere. Check if they use a dental operating microscope, the standard for visualising canal anatomy. Ask about success rates for similar cases and their endodontic qualifications; for example Dr. Reddy has a postgraduate MSc. Get a clear cost breakdown—does the quote include the final crown or is that separate? Finally, ask what happens if the treatment fails and what the long term plan is for the tooth.

As a private practice, we offer transparent prices with no hidden fees. The cost of root canal treatment varies with the tooth and its complexity. We provide a full assessment before quoting. We accept private insurance plans including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna, which can cover part of the cost. Note that we do not offer NHS services. We provide a detailed treatment plan and cost estimate at the initial consultation.