Root Canal Treatment (Endodontics)
A root canal treats an infected or inflamed tooth nerve by cleaning out the pulp, shaping the canals and sealing them, so the tooth can be kept instead of extracted. At Millenia Walk it is usually completed in one to two visits under local anaesthetic and should not be painful once the tooth is numb.
- Visits
- 1–2, occasionally more
- Appointment
- 60–90 minutes
- Anaesthetic
- Local
- Fee
- S$926.50 – 1,580.50
What happens
X-ray and pulp sensitivity testing to confirm the tooth is the source of the problem and how many canals are involved.
Local anaesthetic, then a rubber dam is placed to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and dry.
The infected or inflamed pulp is removed, the canals cleaned, shaped and disinfected, then filled and sealed.
A filling closes the tooth. A back tooth that has lost significant structure is usually restored afterwards with a crown or onlay to protect it from fracturing under normal biting force.
Root canal treatment is not the same as an extraction — it treats the tooth so it does not have to come out. The pulp, the soft tissue at the centre of a tooth carrying its nerve and blood supply, can become inflamed or infected from deep decay, a crack, or repeated dental work on the same tooth.
A root-treated tooth is more brittle afterwards, because it has lost the tissue and blood supply that kept it flexible under biting force. That is the reason a crown or onlay usually follows on a back tooth, rather than an optional extra.
Who does this at Calm Dental
Root canal treatment is completed here, in the clinic. Dr Joanne Ou and Dr Annabelle Tong do not carry it out themselves; where a tooth of theirs needs it, they refer you to one of the three above rather than out of the practice.
Fees for this treatment are on our fees page, including GST. A written quotation follows examination.
Questions
Is a root canal painful?
No. Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth before treatment starts, so the procedure itself should not hurt. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and settles with ordinary painkillers.
How many visits does it take?
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth and how many canals it has. A back molar with more canals sometimes needs an additional visit.
Do I need a crown afterwards?
Often, yes, particularly on a back tooth that has lost significant structure. A root-treated tooth is more brittle, and a crown or onlay protects it from fracturing under normal biting force. We will tell you before treatment whether yours is likely to need one.
How do I know if I need a root canal rather than a filling?
Pain that lingers more than a few seconds after hot or cold, throbbing that wakes you at night, or a tooth tender to bite on suggests the nerve is involved. A quick, sharp twinge that stops immediately is more often a crack or a leaking filling, and does not necessarily need a root canal.
What if the tooth needs retreatment later?
Root canal treatment carries no outcome warranty, because biology decides the result and not us. If a tooth we treated needs retreatment within two years, we do it at half the published fee.