At Middlewich Street Dental Practice, our goal is always to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible. Root canal treatment (also known as endodontics) is a common, highly successful procedure used to save a tooth that has become deeply infected or inflamed, preventing the need for an extraction.
Your tooth consists of a hard outer enamel and a thicker dentine layer, which protect the pulp—the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. If this pulp becomes infected or inflamed, it needs to be removed to save the tooth. Common causes include:
Deep Decay: Bacteria reaching the inner chamber.
Trauma: Cracks or fractures from an injury.
Extensive Restorations: Repeated dental work on a single tooth.
Severe Gum Disease: Infection spreading from the supporting tissues.
Signs of pulp damage can include persistent pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tooth discolouration, or swelling in the gums. However, sometimes there are no symptoms at all, which is why regular check-ups at our Crewe surgery are essential.
We understand that root canals have a reputation for being uncomfortable, but with modern techniques at Middlewich Street Dental, the procedure is relatively painless and feels similar to a standard filling.
Access & Cleaning: Under local anaesthetic, an opening is made to reach the pulp. We use precision rotary files to clean and shape the canals.
Disinfection: The area is flushed with an anti-bacterial solution to remove all traces of infection.
Sealing: The canals are filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha.
Restoration: To prevent future fractures, the tooth is sealed with a filling or, more commonly, a bespoke crown to restore full strength.
Once permanently restored, a root-filled tooth can function normally for a lifetime with good oral hygiene. We recommend:
Avoiding hard foods on the treated tooth until the final crown is fitted.
Maintaining regular hygiene appointments to protect the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Daily brushing and flossing, as the external structure of the tooth can still be prone to decay.
We offer 0% finance.
Not at all. The tooth is fully anaesthetised during the procedure. You may feel some slight tenderness for a few days after treatment as the surrounding tissues heal, which can be managed with standard over-the-counter relievers.
After the pulp is removed, a tooth can become more brittle. A crown acts as a protective ‘cap,’ shielding the tooth from biting forces and preventing it from cracking. This is vital for the long-term success of the treatment
Yes. We want to make sure you can save your natural tooth without financial worry. We offer payment plans for our Crewe patients to help spread the cost of treatment and any following restoration
Depending on the complexity of the tooth (for example, molars have more canals than front teeth), treatment usually takes one or two appointments of about 60 to 90 minutes. We will give you a specific timeframe during your initial assessment.
t Middlewich Street Dental, our philosophy is to save natural teeth whenever possible. Extracting a tooth can lead to surrounding teeth shifting, issues with your bite, and the need for more expensive replacements like bridges. A root canal allows you to keep your natural smile and maintain your jawbone health.
An untreated infection in the pulp will not heal on its own. It can lead to a dental abscess, severe pain, and the eventual loss of the supporting bone around the tooth. Early intervention at our practice is the best way to prevent emergency extractions.
Because the living tissue (pulp) is removed, the tooth can become more brittle over time. A bespoke porcelain crown acts as a protective ‘cap,’ reinforcing the tooth against biting forces and significantly increasing the long-term success of the treatment
Yes. We use local anaesthetic rather than general sedation for root canals, so you will be perfectly fine to drive. Your mouth may remain numb for a few hours, so we advise caution when eating or drinking hot liquids until the feeling returns
