Root Canal Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment relieves the pain of an infected tooth and saves it. When decay or injury reaches the soft tissue inside a tooth, called the pulp, that tissue becomes infected and painful. Root canal treatment clears the infected tissue, then cleans, shapes and seals the space that is left, so your own tooth stays in place and keeps working. The severe ache that brings most people in is the infection, and the treatment settles it.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah, the aim is to keep your own tooth wherever that is the sensible option, because a natural tooth, once saved, usually serves you better than a gap or a replacement. Our dentists explain what they find and guide you to the treatment that suits your tooth.
Who benefits from it
Root canal treatment helps when decay, a crack or an injury has reached the pulp and left it infected. The common signs are a lasting toothache, pain when biting, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the source is removed, a darkening tooth, or a swelling or small pimple on the gum near the tooth. Some teeth give little warning, and the problem shows up on an X-ray or during another examination.
A shallow cavity that stays above the pulp is repaired with a simple filling. Root canal treatment comes into its own once the pulp itself is involved, because treating it early keeps the infection contained and settles the pain quickly. Acting promptly keeps the tooth comfortable and gives it the best chance of a long life.
What happens
Root canal treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the tooth and the area around it stay numb throughout and the visit stays comfortable. Your dentist first confirms the problem with an examination and an X-ray, which shows the roots and the extent of the infection.
Once the tooth is numb, an opening is made through the top of the tooth to reach the pulp. The infected tissue is removed from the pulp chamber and the narrow canals inside each root. These canals are then cleaned, shaped and disinfected. When the space is clean, it is filled with a sealing material to close it off, and the opening in the tooth is closed with a filling.
This may be done in a single visit or over more than one, depending on how many canals the tooth has, how much infection is present, and whether the tooth benefits from time to settle between stages. Where there is heavier infection, a temporary dressing may be placed and the tooth sealed at a later appointment, which lets the tooth calm down fully before it is closed.
Preparing for it
For an assessment, simply attending is enough. Eat normally beforehand unless you are told otherwise, since the anaesthetic works well on a comfortable patient and you may prefer to wait until the numbness wears off before your next meal. Tell your dentist about your medical history and any medicines you take, particularly blood thinners, and mention if you are pregnant. If pain has kept you from sleeping or eating, say so, because that guides how urgently the tooth is dealt with.
Afterwards
It is normal for the tooth to feel tender or slightly sore for a few days once the anaesthetic wears off, especially when biting on it, and ordinary pain relief usually settles this comfortably. The tooth may feel a little different from your others for a while as it settles. You can return to normal activity the same day.
Contact us, or seek dental care, if the pain stays severe, if it builds instead of easing, if swelling develops in the gum, cheek or face, if you develop a fever, or if the temporary filling comes away. Spreading swelling, or a fever with a treated tooth, points to infection that needs prompt attention, and our team will see you quickly. Staying in touch means any concern is dealt with early.
The pain most people fear
The reputation of root canal treatment is largely undeserved. The severe pain people link with it is the pain of the infection that made the treatment necessary, and the procedure relieves that pain. Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, and for most patients it feels much like having a filling. Root canal treatment eases the ache rather than adding to it. Because of this, the best step is to come in early, while the tooth can still be saved comfortably.
The next step
If you have a toothache, biting pain, lingering sensitivity or swelling near a tooth, an examination and an X-ray show your dentist exactly what is happening and what will help. From there, our dentists talk you through the treatment that suits your tooth and answer any questions you have about cost and cover. Book an appointment on 06 599 7777, and our team will arrange a time that works for you.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Does root canal treatment hurt?
It is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the tooth stays numb throughout and for most people it feels much like having a filling. The severe pain linked with root canals is the pain of the infection beforehand, which the treatment relieves. Our dentists keep you comfortable from start to finish.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Common signs are a lasting toothache, pain on biting, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers, a darkening tooth, or swelling on the gum near a tooth. A dentist confirms whether the pulp is involved with an examination and an X-ray, and explains what they find.
Can a filling fix the problem instead?
A filling repairs a cavity while it stays above the pulp. Once decay or injury reaches the pulp and it becomes infected, root canal treatment is what settles the infection and saves the tooth. Your dentist advises which of the two suits your tooth after examining it.
How many appointments does it take?
It may be completed in a single visit or spread over more than one, depending on how many canals the tooth has and how much infection is present. A heavily infected tooth is sometimes treated in stages with a temporary dressing in between, which lets it settle fully. Your dentist tells you the likely plan at your assessment.
Why might I need a crown after a root canal?
Root canal treatment saves the tooth, and a crown afterwards protects and strengthens it, so it stands up well to everyday chewing, especially at the back of the mouth. A crown covers the treated tooth and helps it last. Your dentist explains whether a crown is advised for your tooth and why.
Is a treated tooth as strong afterwards?
Root canal treatment keeps your own tooth, which is the strong, familiar choice. To keep it robust for the long term, your dentist often recommends a crown to cover and reinforce it, particularly for a back tooth that does most of the chewing. That combination gives the tooth lasting protection.
Is it ever better to replace the tooth instead?
Keeping your own tooth is usually the preferred outcome, and root canal treatment makes that possible for most teeth. Where a tooth is better replaced, your dentist explains the options clearly and helps you choose, so you keep a comfortable, working bite. The choice is always made together with you.
Can the infection settle for good after treatment?
For most teeth, treatment clears the infection and the tooth stays comfortable long term. If any new pain or swelling appears in a treated tooth later on, having it checked lets your dentist keep it healthy and, where useful, refresh the treatment. Staying in touch keeps the tooth in good hands.
What should I do if the tooth still feels tender a few days later?
Mild tenderness for a few days is normal and settles with ordinary pain relief. If the pain stays severe, builds, or comes with swelling or fever, contact us, as that can point to infection we can treat. Our team will see you promptly and put it right.
Will my dental insurance cover it?
Dental cover in the UAE varies between plans, and the consultation and X-ray are often handled separately from the procedure and any crown that follows. Checking your policy and asking for a written treatment plan makes the costs clear from the outset. Confirm your cover with our team on 06 599 7777 before treatment begins.
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