When decay or trauma reaches the pulp, the soft tissue inside a tooth, the result is inflammation and usually pain. A root canal removes that tissue, cleans and shapes the canal system, disinfects it and seals it. The tooth stays in the mouth and continues to function.
The alternative to a root canal is extraction, which then creates a gap that itself needs an implant or a bridge. Keeping the natural tooth is almost always the less invasive and less expensive path.
When root canal treatment is the right treatment
- Persistent, throbbing or night-time toothache
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold after the stimulus is removed
- Swelling, an abscess or a sinus opening near a tooth
- A tooth that has darkened after an injury
- Deep decay found on an X-ray before it becomes painful
What the treatment involves
- 1
Diagnosis
Examination, vitality testing and an X-ray to confirm the pulp is involved and to see the canal anatomy and any infection at the root tip.
- 2
Access and cleaning
Under local anaesthesia and rubber dam isolation, an opening is made and the canals are cleaned with rotary files and irrigants.
- 3
Obturation
The canals are sealed, usually with gutta-percha, and the access cavity is closed. In straightforward cases this can be completed in a single sitting.
- 4
Crown
A treated back tooth is more brittle and generally needs a crown to prevent fracture. This is part of the treatment, not an upsell.
Cost
RCT cost depends on the tooth, the number of canals and whether a crown is included.
See root canal treatment costs in Lucknow →Root Canal Treatment: common questions
Is single sitting RCT safe?
Yes, for the right case. Single-sitting treatment is well supported when there is no acute abscess, the canals can be fully cleaned and dried in one visit, and the anatomy is manageable. An actively draining infection is usually better treated across two visits with an intracanal medicament in between.
Is a root canal painful?
The procedure itself is done under anaesthesia and is generally comfortable. The pain people associate with root canals is the pain of the infection that made the treatment necessary, and that usually settles within a day or two of treatment.
Do I really need a crown after a root canal?
For molars and premolars, almost always. The tooth loses structural integrity during decay removal and access, and an uncrowned back tooth has a materially higher fracture risk. A front tooth with minimal loss can sometimes be restored with a filling.
How long does a root canal treated tooth last?
Well-treated and properly crowned teeth commonly last many years. Failure is usually linked to a missing or delayed crown, a re-infection, or a fracture, not to the root canal itself.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr. Dhanya Saxena, BDS, MHA, FMC, FAOI, oro-dental surgeon and aesthetic physician at Redefine Dental and Facial Aesthetic, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Dental Council registration 20935. Last reviewed 30 August 2026.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination.