321 Babbacombe Road, TQ1 3TB
01803 389 222
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Root Canal Treatment in Torquay

Treatment that relieves the pain of an infected tooth — and saves the tooth rather than losing it.
dr lin little
Trusted Hands, Healthy Smiles
01803 389 222

Can your tooth beSaved?

Root canal treatment — clinically, endodontics — treats a tooth whose pulp has become inflamed or infected. The pulp is the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth that carries its nerve and blood supply. Once it is damaged beyond recovery the tooth will not settle on its own, and left alone the infection spreads into the bone around the root.

Most people arrive expecting the treatment itself to be the painful part. In practice, the pain is caused by the infection, and root canal treatment is what removes it. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain while it is being done. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and usually settles with over-the-counter pain relief.

Root Canal Treatments in Torquay

What are the Benefits?

The realistic alternative to root canal treatment is removing the tooth. Where a tooth can be saved predictably, keeping it is almost always the better outcome — for how you chew, for the teeth either side of it, and for the bone that holds them all in place.
01.
Relief from the painRoot canal treatment removes the infected pulp that is causing the pain, rather than masking it. For most patients this is the reason they attend, and the relief is the most immediate benefit of the treatment.
02.
Keeping your own toothNo replacement performs quite like a natural tooth. Root canal treatment allows the infected tissue to be removed and the inside of the root sealed, so the tooth itself stays in place and continues to function.
03.
Stopping the infection spreadingAn untreated infected tooth can develop into an abscess, and the infection can track into the surrounding bone. Treating it early keeps the problem contained to the one tooth.
04.
Protecting the rest of your biteWhen a tooth is removed, the teeth either side of the gap tend to drift and tilt into it, and the bone beneath begins to shrink. Keeping the tooth avoids both, and avoids the more involved treatment that may later be needed to correct them.
05.
A well-evidenced treatmentRoot canal treatment is among the most thoroughly studied procedures in dentistry. A systematic review published in the International Endodontic Journal found that between 86% and 93% of root-treated teeth were still in place two to ten years after treatment. How your own tooth is likely to fare depends on how much sound tooth structure remains, whether there is infection at the root tip, the anatomy of the roots themselves, and how well the tooth is restored afterwards. We will assess these and give you a realistic view before you begin.

Root Canal Treatment Fees

What root canal treatment costs depends on which tooth is being treated. Back teeth have more roots and more canals within them, so they take longer and are more complex to treat than front teeth. We will confirm the exact fee with you after assessment, before any treatment begins.

Tooth
Fee
With a membership plan
Incisor or canine
£700
£630
Premolar
£800
£720
Molar
£900
£810

Referred within our group

Some complex cases are better treated by a colleague within our wider group who has an extended focus in endodontics. Where that is the right course, we will explain why and confirm the full cost with you before referring you. That route begins with a separate consultation, charged in addition to the treatment fee.

Tooth
Treatment
Total including consultation
Initial consultation
£125
–
Incisor or canine
£760
£885
Premolar
£880
£1,005
Molar
£900
£1,075

Membership plan members receive 10% off root canal treatment carried out at WB Dental. The discount does not apply to treatment referred within our group, or to the consultation fee for that referral.

These fees cover the root canal treatment itself. Most back teeth need a crown afterwards to protect them from fracturing — this is a separate treatment with a separate fee, and we will explain it to you before you decide how to proceed.

Control yourOwn Treatment

The decision is yours to make. We assess the tooth, take the radiographs needed to see the root clearly, and then set out the options honestly — including removing the tooth, where that is the more sensible course. You will know the fee and roughly how many appointments are involved before anything starts.

Root canal treatment at the practice is carried out by Dr Ed Streamer (GDC: 277834), Dr Lin Little (GDC: 107313) and Dr Lauren Smith (GDC: 283589). Dr Streamer treats a higher volume of endodontic cases than most general dentists and accepts referrals both from colleagues within the practice and from other practices across Torquay and Torbay. Where a case is unusually complex, he will say so and discuss referring you to a colleague within our wider group.

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Referrals
FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Root Canal Treatment in Torquay. At Wellswood & Babbacombe Dental, we take a personalised approach to every treatment, ensuring care is tailored to your individual needs. If you have any questions or would like further information, our team will be happy to help.

This is the question we are asked most, and the fear is usually based on
how the treatment used to be described rather than how it is carried
out now. The pain that brings most patients in is caused by the
infection inside the tooth, not by the treatment. Your tooth and the
surrounding area are numbed with local anaesthetic before we begin, so
you should not feel pain during the procedure itself. Afterwards, it is
normal for the tooth to feel tender for a few days, particularly when
biting on it. Over-the-counter pain relief is usually enough. If
discomfort is increasing rather than settling after the first few days,
call us.

At WB Dental, root canal treatment is £700 for an incisor or canine,
£800 for a premolar and £900 for a molar. Back teeth cost more because
they have more roots and more canals to clean and seal. Patients on one
of our membership plans receive 10% off these fees. If your case is
complex enough to be better treated by a colleague within our wider
group, that route begins with a separate £125 consultation, and the
treatment fees are £760, £880 and £950 — between £885 and £1,075 in
total. The membership discount does not apply to referred treatment. One
point worth knowing before you compare prices elsewhere: most back
teeth need a crown after root canal treatment to stop them fracturing,
and that is a separate cost. We will set out the full figure for you
before you commit to anything.

Most root canal treatments are completed in one or two appointments,
each usually lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Front teeth have a
single root and are often finished in one visit. Molars have multiple
roots and several canals within them, so they more commonly take two.
Where an infection is well established, we may place a medicated
dressing and seal the tooth temporarily, then complete the treatment at a
second visit once the infection has settled. If the tooth needs a crown
afterwards, that is arranged as a separate course of appointments. We
will tell you at assessment which of these applies to you.

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From preventive care to advanced procedures, we offer tailored dental solutions to help you achieve a healthy, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.