Root canal treatment is often the last chance to save a tooth that has been attacked by bacteria. It is usually used for inflamed tooth nerves. It may also be necessary before inserting a crown or dental bridge.

In the first step of the treatment, we anaesthetise the affected tissue, put on a rubber dam and remove the carious areas. We then drill a hole in the occlusal surface to access the canals containing the infected pulp. We carefully enlarge the root canals with flexible nickel-titanium files and clean affected areas. In between, we rinse the canals with a disinfecting solution that quickly eliminates bacteria. By measuring the length electronically, we can determine very precisely when we have reached the end of the root canal. This helps us to precisely remove the tissue at the root tip. A complete and thorough cleaning of the canals may take several sessions.

Once we have located and cleaned all the root canals, we seal them with thermally heated materials. As a final step, the tooth is often crowned. This gives it long-term stability and compensates for the loss of substance caused by the treatment.

This is a difficult question! It depends on the individual case. If the infection is mild and quickly eliminated, we can close the tooth permanently during the first treatment. If the infection is advanced, the treatment may take several appointments. In this case, you will receive a medicated filling for the time between appointments instead of a permanent filling. How long it takes for the affected area to heal after treatment depends on the condition of the tooth before treatment.

The treatment itself does not involve any pain thanks to modern dental technology and anaesthesia. Of course, it can still be experienced as unpleasant. After the treatment, slight pain is quite normal and no reason to worry. Because the treatment removes the nerve of the tooth, the pain often comes from the surrounding sensitive tissue. It may take a few days for the tissue to settle down. If you still experience pain after a week, it is best to come to the practice for a follow-up visit.

The health insurance company pays for root canal treatment – with some limitations. The tooth must be “”worth preserving””. A tooth is considered worthy of preservation if the root canals can be filled up to the tip of the root. The costs increase if additional services are provided, such as isolation by means of a rubber dam, electronic length measurement, use of lasers or thermally heated root fillings.

Treatment is also often covered by the health insurance system if it enables us to maintain a closed row of teeth, prevent shortening of the tooth rows or protect existing dentures. If the tooth is not deemed worthy of preservation, the statutory health insurance pays for an extraction of the tooth.