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What is endodontics?

Endodontics is the diagnosis and treatment of pain relating to teeth. It's a specialist area of dentistry and in general terms, it involves either root canal treatment or apical surgery.

Endodontic microscope

Give your tooth a second chance with root canal treatment

Has your dentist recommended you that you need root canal treatment? If so, you're not alone. Millions of teeth are saved each year by endodontics (root canal treatment). This will permanently solve your toothache and save your smile.

How does endodontic treatment save a tooth?

An endodontist removes the diseased pulp (nerve) tissue throughout the inside of the tooth roots, then carefully shapes and seals the root canal space. Afterward, you return to your own dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to restore it to full function and appearance.

How is root canal treatment different with an endodontist compared to a general dentist?

Routine root canal treatment may be performed by a general dentist. However, the success rate may be much higher for an endodontist, because of their enhanced training and skills in this field. This is especially likely in more complex cases where the root anatomy or access to the tooth is difficult, or where previous root canal treatment has failed. Re-do treatment involves more complex procedures and is usually carried out by an endodontist.

Furthermore, root canal treatments by an endodontist are more precise and require less tooth structure to be removed, with the use of very high magnification provided by an operating microscope.

Examples of our Endodontics treatments

Case 1: The before radiograph (x-ray) illustrates recurrent caries (dental decay) affecting the lower right first molar tooth. This led to toothache and the tooth’s death. This was successfully resolved by root canal treatment, as illustrated in the after radiograph.
Case 2: The before radiograph shows failing restorations and inadequate root canal treatments in both the lower second premolar and first molar teeth. Both teeth had chronic infections, but these were resolved by specialist endodontic re-treatments (followed by new dental crowns).
Case 3: The initial radiograph shows a poorly condensed root filling in the upper molar tooth. It transpired that the patient experienced pain through nerve tissue left in a root canal which had not been previously found within the tooth. Endodontic re-treatment was successfully carried out, as seen in the after radiograph.
Case 4: The radiographs below illustrate some endodontic treatments which can be achieved through the use of a specialised operating microscope. This enabled an ultra-conservative (‘key-hole’) approach where minimal tooth tissue was removed to gain access to the infected tissues inside the tooth.

Our Endodontics lead

Sarfaraaz Zahid

Introducing Dr Sarfaraaz Zahid BDS, MFDS RCS (Edin), MSc (Endo). The Priestgate Clinic is delighted to have Dr Sarfaraaz Zahid with his special interest in Endodontics. Sarfaraaz qualified at the University of Liverpool in 2011, then obtained a Master’s degree in Endodontics with distinction from the University of London. He's currently completing part-time specialist training at King’s College London, leading to full specialist membership at the Royal College of Surgeons. He focuses on endodontic treatments following referral from dental colleagues.

Specialised treatments for complex root canal problems, following either referral by your dentist, or via your self-referral.

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