Endodontics

At our dental clinics across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, our dentists treat infection and inflammation inside the tooth, most often with root canal treatment. The aim is to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal and relieve pain, if present and keep your own tooth rather than remove it.

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that treats the soft tissue inside a tooth, called the pulp, which holds its nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, a dentist or endodontist removes it, cleans and fills the space and seals the tooth, most often with root canal treatment. This can save a tooth that might otherwise need to be taken out, and endodontists also treat cracked teeth and injuries that reach the pulp.

When should you see a dentist about pulp problems?

Pulp problems often show up as tooth pain or sensitivity that doesn't settle. Book an appointment if you notice:

• Throbbing toothache, or pain that comes on for no clear reason
• Pain that lingers after hot or cold food and drink
• Pain when you bite or chew on a tooth
• A tooth that has darkened or changed colour
• A tender or swollen gum next to a tooth
• A small pimple or "gumboil" that leaks pus, or a bad taste

A dental abscess with swelling that spreads towards your eye or neck, or that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, needs emergency care straight away.

Pulp problems don't go away on their own, and a tooth can be damaged without much pain at first, so it's worth having ongoing aches or sensitivity checked. A general dentist often spots the problem at a check-up and either treats it or refers you to an endodontist for more complex work. In the UAE you can usually book a dentist directly, though some insurance plans have their own requirements.

What to expect

Your dentist or endodontist will discuss your symptoms, examine the affected tooth and take X-rays. These images help assess the roots and the surrounding bone, allowing your dentist to plan the treatment. In more complex cases, a 3D X-ray may be recommended to provide a more detailed view of the tooth's root canals.

Root canal treatment is performed under local anaesthetic, so you'll be awake but should not feel any pain. Your dentist will create a small opening in the tooth to access the infected pulp, remove the damaged tissue and, if necessary, drain any abscess. The root canals are then carefully cleaned and disinfected to remove bacteria.

Once the canals have been cleaned, they are filled and sealed to help prevent further infection. Depending on your treatment plan, a temporary filling may be placed between appointments before the tooth is permanently restored. Many root canal treatments can be completed in a single visit, although more complex cases may require two or more appointments.

It's normal for the treated tooth to feel tender for a few days afterwards. Your dentist will explain how to care for the tooth during recovery and advise you when to return for any follow-up treatment.

Endodontics at Mediclinic

Our dentists provide root canal treatment as part of the dental care at our clinics, so an infected or painful tooth can be assessed and treated by the team already looking after you. We use dental X-rays and digital imaging to examine the tooth and plan the treatment, and we carry out root canal treatment under local anaesthetic across more than one visit where needed.

After the pulp is treated, we can rebuild and protect the tooth with a filling or a crown so you can bite and eat normally again. Where a case is complex, it can be handled by a endodontist with additional training in this area, and your dentist talks you through each step, the number of visits and the aftercare.