Root Canal Treatment & Endodontics in Henfield

If you have a tooth that throbs at night, reacts painfully to hot drinks, or hurts when you bite down, the pulp inside the tooth, the nerve and blood supply may be inflamed or infected. Without treatment, the infection can spread into the bone around the tooth root, lead to an abscess, and eventually result in tooth loss.

Root canal treatment removes infection from inside the tooth and aims to preserve your natural tooth where possible.

At Mallards Dental Practice in Henfield, root canal treatment is carried out by Dr Maher Malki, a dentist with a special interest in endodontics. Dr Malki has completed more than 10,000 root canal treatments and works exclusively under a dental microscope.

We provide root canal treatment and endodontic care for patients from Henfield, Steyning, Hurstpierpoint, and across West Sussex.

If you’re experiencing toothache or think you may need root canal treatment, call us on 01273 495 966. 

We prioritise patients in pain and aim to see you the same or next working day.

Why choose Mallards Dental for root canal treatment

• A dentist who focuses on root canals. Dr Maher Malki (298577) completed a three-year, full-time master’s degree in endodontics at Saint-Joseph University and holds a diploma in microendodontics from the University of Valencia. His clinical focus is endodontic treatment, including root canal treatment, retreatment and post-endodontic buildups. Read more about Dr Malki.
• Microscope-assisted precision. Every case is treated under a dental operating microscope. Magnification makes it far easier to find narrow, curved or hidden canals, a missed canal is one of the most common reasons root canals treatment can fail.
• Comfortable numbing with The Wand. We use The Wand, a computer-controlled anaesthetic system that delivers local anaesthetic slowly and steadily and is designed to improve comfort during the injection, and to numb just the tooth being treated rather than half your face. Most patients are able to talk, drink and get on with their day again soon after leaving.
• Same-visit CEREC crown. A root-treated back tooth usually needs a crown to protect it. Where clinically suitable, CEREC allows us to design, mill and fit a ceramic crown in the same appointment, which can avoid the need for a temporary crown and a separate fitting visit.
• Clear fees, no surprises. Root canal treatment starts from £566 and every fee is confirmed in writing before treatment begins. See our fee guide.
• A calm, friendly practice. Nervous patients are well looked after here, it comes up in our reviews again and again. We’re rated 4.9 stars on Google

Signs you may need root canal treatment for infected tooth pulp

Not every case of tooth pain means a root canal, but these symptoms are worth getting checked promptly. In dentistry, endodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the dental pulp:

• Toothache that lingers or keeps you awake, especially when lying down
• Sharp pain when biting or chewing
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts long after the drink is gone
• Swelling or tenderness in the gum around one tooth
• A pimple-like spot on the gum, or a bad taste in your mouth (a sign of an abscess)
• A tooth that has darkened or turned grey
• A tooth that has been knocked, cracked or chipped

Some infected teeth cause no pain at all and are only picked up on an X-ray at a routine check-up, another good reason not to skip them. Further assessment can also help diagnose complex tooth pain caused by infection or inflammation of the pulp.

Our endodontic treatments

Root canal treatment

The dental pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels, and it becomes inflamed or infected when bacteria reach it, usually through deep decay, a crack, a large or leaking filling, or repeated dental work. Root canal treatment is a procedure that removes the damaged pulp and infected soft tissue from inside the tooth, cleans and disinfects the canals inside the root, then fills and seals them so bacteria cannot return. The root canal procedure is designed to prevent further damage when the pulp is infected.

Most teeth are completed in one or two visits, depending on how many canals the tooth has and how established the infection is. Front teeth typically have one canal; molars have three or four, which is where the microscope earns its keep.

Root canal retreatment

A root canal that was done years ago can occasionally become reinfected. Common causes are a canal that was missed or not fully cleaned the first time, a filling or crown that has started to leak, or new decay. If that happens, endodontic surgery may be the next option when retreatment alone is not enough. Retreatment means carefully removing the old filling material, re-cleaning and disinfecting the canals under magnification, and re-sealing the tooth.

Retreatment is more technically demanding than a first-time root canal, which is exactly why patients and dentists across West Sussex look for a clinician who does this work every day. An apicoectomy is an endodontic surgery used when infection persists around the tooth root after a previous root canal.

Cracked and injured teeth

A crack that reaches the pulp, or a knock that damages the nerve, can be treated in the same way. If you’ve cracked a tooth or taken a blow to the mouth, early assessment can help determine the appropriate treatment, whether the tooth can be preserved and helps avoid further damage if the problem is left untreated.

Restoring the natural tooth afterwards

Removing the pulp leaves a tooth more brittle, so most root-treated back teeth need a crown to stop them fracturing. Where the tooth structure allows, we mill and fit a CEREC ceramic crown on the day of treatment. In the small number of cases where a tooth cannot be saved, a vertical root fracture, for example, we’ll explain the alternatives, including a dental implant.

What to expect: root canal treatment step by step

1. Assessment and diagnosis

We’ll ask about your symptoms, examine the tooth, take a small X-ray and test whether the nerve is still responding to diagnose whether your tooth pain is coming from the pulp or the surrounding tissues. This tells us whether the tooth needs root canal treatment, whether it can be saved, and how many visits it is likely to take, and helps us decide whether root canal treatment, retreatment, or another endodontic treatment is appropriate. You’ll get a written estimate before anything else happens.

2. Getting you numb

The Wand delivers local anaesthetic slowly and steadily, so the injection itself is barely noticeable and the numbness is concentrated on the tooth being treated. Once you’re comfortable, a small rubber sheet (a rubber dam) is placed over the tooth to keep it dry and isolated.

3. Cleaning and sealing the canals

Working under the microscope, Dr Malki opens the top of the tooth, removes the infected pulp, and shapes and disinfects each canal with fine instruments and an antibacterial solution while protecting the surrounding area from tissue damage. The canals are then filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed.

4. Protecting the tooth

Depending on the tooth, we’ll either place a permanent filling or fit a CEREC crown at the same visit. If a second appointment is needed, the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling in the meantime.

5. Recovery and follow-up

Mild tenderness for a few days is normal and usually settles with over-the-counter painkillers. Once healing is confirmed, your regular dentist can usually take over routine check-ups again. We’ll check the tooth at a follow-up check-up to confirm it has healed. If pain or swelling returns at any point, call us and you’ll be seen promptly.

Root canal treatment cost in Henfield

Our fees depend on which tooth is being treated, because the number of canals affects the time and skill involved:

Retreatment of a previous root canal is quoted individually after assessment. All fees are confirmed in writing before treatment starts, and finance options are available to spread the cost, ask at reception. See the full fee guide and our Denplan membership plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is root canal treatment painful?

Root canal treatment is usually carried out under local anaesthetic. Many patients find the procedure similar to having a filling, although individual experiences can vary. The treatment aims to relieve pain and treat infection inside the tooth. We will make sure you are adequately numb before treatment begins.

How long does root canal treatment take?

A front tooth is often finished in a single appointment of around an hour. Molars, retreatments and heavily infected teeth may need two visits. We’ll tell you at the assessment how many appointments to expect.

How much does a root canal cost in Henfield?

At Mallards Dental Practice, root canal treatment starts from £566 for a front tooth, £669 for a premolar and £736 for a molar. A crown, if needed, is priced separately. You’ll receive a written estimate before treatment begins.

Will I need a crown after a root canal?

Usually, yes, for back teeth. A root-treated tooth is more brittle, and a crown protects it from splitting under chewing forces. Front teeth can often be restored with a filling alone. Because we have CEREC in-house, the crown can typically be fitted at the same visit.

What happens if my previous root canal has failed?

Persistent or returning pain, swelling, or an infection spotted on an X-ray around a root-filled tooth usually means the tooth can be retreated rather than extracted. Dr Malki treats retreatment cases from across West Sussex and will advise honestly if a tooth can’t be saved.

Can I have root canal treatment if I’m nervous of the dentist?

Yes. Many of our patients arrive anxious and leave surprised at how straightforward it was. Tell us when you book – we’ll take things at your pace, explain each step, and The Wand takes away the part most people dread.

Is root canal treatment better than having the tooth out?

Where a tooth has a suitable prognosis, preserving the natural tooth is often preferred. Root canal treatment may allow the tooth to remain functional and can avoid the need to replace it. In some cases, however, extraction may be the more appropriate option. We will explain the prognosis and available alternatives after assessment.

Book your root canal consultation in Henfield

Toothache rarely gets better on its own. Call 01273 495 966 or book online and let us take a look.

We’re open 8:45am to 5:45pm Monday to Friday, with evenings and Saturdays available by arrangement, and there is free parking at the practice.

Mallards Dental Practice · 2 Mallard Way, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9HF · Contact us