Postgraduate-Qualified Root Canal Expert in East Finchley

Seek care from a dentist with advanced endodontic training when you face challenges beyond routine procedures. This is the right choice if you have severe, lingering tooth pain, if a previous root canal has failed, or if your general dentist found complex anatomy such as curved or narrow canals in your tooth's root. Patients are referred to our East Finchley practice for issues like a cracked tooth or a dental abscess that hasn't resolved. If your goal is to save a natural tooth under difficult circumstances, postgraduate care offers the most reliable path.

First, the initial consultation lasts about 60 minutes. We use our in-house 3D CBCT scanner to map the tooth's root structure and make a precise diagnosis. The procedure itself occurs in a single appointment lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Dr. Reddy performs the treatment under a high magnification dental microscope, ensuring small canals are cleaned and sealed. The procedure uses local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure but not pain. Afterward, we send a detailed report to your general dentist, who will place the permanent crown after a healing period of a few weeks.

From Hampstead, a patient with persistent upper molar pain came in. Standard X rays were inconclusive. A 3D CBCT scan showed an untreated fourth canal. Using the dental microscope, Dr. Reddy located, cleaned, and sealed this tiny canal in a 90 minute session. The pain resolved and the tooth was saved from extraction. This shows how advanced imaging and magnification support predictable outcomes.

A teacher from East Finchley visited five years after a root canal done elsewhere. The tooth had reinfected. We found the original seal was inadequate. Re treatment involved removing old filling material, thoroughly disinfecting the canal system, and placing a new seal. The total treatment time was just under two hours. The tooth is now fully functional and pain-free, showing that expert care can revise a failed treatment.

In the first 24 to 48 hours you will feel tenderness and sensitivity, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This is managed with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until the final crown is placed. You can brush and floss as normal but be gentle around the area for the first few days. Long term a root canal tooth with a crown should be cared for like any other tooth. Red flags requiring a call to our office include severe pain that is not controlled by painkillers, visible swelling inside or outside your mouth, or an allergic reaction to medication. Please contact us during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tue/Thu 11-7) if you experience these symptoms.

The primary alternative to root canal treatment is tooth extraction. While sometimes necessary if the tooth is non-restorable, we always aim to save natural teeth first. Once a tooth is extracted, the space needs to be filled to prevent other teeth from shifting. This can be done with a dental implant, which is a titanium screw placed in the jawbone with a crown on top. It's a highly effective but more expensive and lengthy process. Another option is a fixed bridge, which involves placing crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap to support a false tooth. This requires grinding down healthy teeth, which is a significant drawback. We'll discuss all options with you so you can make an informed choice.

To ensure you receive the highest standard of care, whether with us or another practice in North London, here are some key questions to ask. What is your success rate for this type of procedure? Do you use a dental microscope and 3D imaging for all root canal treatments? What postgraduate training or qualifications in endodontics do you have? How many appointments will the treatment require? What are the total costs, including the consultation and any scans? What are the risks of the treatment failing and what would the next steps be?