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.
Most root canals are routine work for a general dentist. Some, such as redoing a root canal that has failed or treating canals that are blocked or sharply curved, are cases for an endodontist, and the page on finding a root canal specialist in Lucknow explains when that applies.
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 cost in Lucknow →Questions patients ask
Questions patients ask about root canal and crowns
- Is single sitting root canal treatment safe?
- Does a root canal hurt?
- Zirconia or metal-ceramic crown: which is better?
- Do I need a crown after a root canal?
- What are the types of dental crowns?
- What are the side effects of a root canal?
- What happens during root canal treatment, step by step?
- What happens when you get a crown (cap)?
- Filling or root canal: which do I need?
- Save the tooth with a root canal, or extract and implant?
- What causes root canal tooth pain years later?
- Can you get a crown without a root canal?
- What can I eat after a root canal?
- How is a root canal on a front tooth different?
- What is a temporary crown, and how do you look after it?
- What is a zirconia dental cap, and is it a good choice?
- When does a front tooth need a crown rather than a veneer or bonding?
- How can I prevent a root canal?
- What is the full form of RCT in dentistry?
- What is the full form of PFM in dentistry?
- What is the full form of FPD in dentistry?
- What is an endodontist and when do you need one?
- What is a tooth cap, and when do you need one?
- Root Canal Cost in Lucknow
- Dental Crown Cost in Lucknow
- Dental Bridge Cost 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.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.