Root Canal Treatment

One visit, not several

Most practices split root canal treatment across two or more appointments, sealing the tooth with a temporary dressing in between. We complete it in one.

Dr. Jagdeo is certified in rotary endodontics — the canals are shaped with a powered instrument rather than by hand, which is faster and more consistent than the traditional method.

That matters for more than convenience. Every extra appointment means another injection, another stretch of time with a temporary filling that can leak or fracture, and another week of not knowing whether it worked.

What it actually treats

Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels called the pulp. An untreated cavity is the commonest way bacteria reach it — a crack, a knock or a deep filling can do the same — and once the pulp is infected it does not recover on its own.

A root canal removes that tissue, disinfects the space, and seals it. The tooth stays; only the inside is replaced. Afterwards it usually needs a crown, because a treated tooth is more brittle than a living one — see crown or filling?

The alternative is removing the tooth, which is quicker and cheaper on the day and more expensive afterwards, because the gap then wants replacing. What happens if I leave a gap?

Does it hurt?

The reputation is worse than the reality, and it is decades out of date. The tooth is fully numbed, so the procedure itself is essentially painless, and for most people it feels much like having a filling — longer, but not sharper.

What people actually remember as painful is usually the infection beforehand. The treatment is what stops that.

If the appointment itself is the worry rather than the pain, sedation is available — oral, nitrous oxide, or IV with an anaesthetist.

What it costs

The price varies with the tooth. A front tooth usually has one canal; a back molar can have three or four, and each is cleaned and sealed individually — so a molar is more work. You will be quoted for your specific tooth before anything begins.

Been told you need one and you are not sure? Here is when it is genuinely necessary, and second opinions are free.

If you cannot afford it right now

A root canal at TT$3,000 is a real amount of money, and "I cannot afford it" is a more common answer than people admit. What matters is that doing nothing is not one of the options — an infected nerve does not settle on its own, and the next stage is a facial swelling that needs treating urgently anyway.

What is worth knowing:

• Tell us. Treatment can often be staged so the infection is dealt with first and the crown follows later.
• Check your cover before assuming. Root canal treatment is usually covered by local dental plans, often at the "major restorative" rate. We check your entitlement before treatment, and with a Guardian easiClaim card you see your own cost at reception before starting.
• Extraction is cheaper today and usually not cheaper overall, because the gap wants replacing. What happens if you leave it.
• Get a second opinion if the plan feels large. Ours are free, on any dentist's plan, and we are comfortable saying when work is not needed.

How long does a root canal last?

A well-treated tooth can last for decades — many last the rest of a person's life. What usually fails is not the root filling but the tooth around it, which is why a crown afterwards matters: a treated tooth is more brittle than a living one, and protecting it is what turns a good result into a lasting one.