Endodontist in Enfield – Root Canal & Endodontic Treatment

We offer in-house endodontic treatments in Enfield with our Specialist Endodontist, Dr Sharon Stern.

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is also known as root canal treatment. Root canal procedures aim to treat infections inside your tooth. All dentists receive training in root canal treatment, but it can be very complex. An Endodontist has advanced training, experience, and equipment for this treatment. 

A front tooth usually has one canal, while the back teeth usually have three or more canals. Occasionally, these canals are curved or blocked and for this reason, root canal treatment can be complicated and may take two or more visits, although sometimes it may be completed in one visit. Typically, each visit lasts between one to two hours. 

Local anaesthetic is used for root canal treatment, so no pain should be experienced during the procedure. We will make every effort to ensure your comfort throughout.

When do you need a root canal?

You will probably need a root canal when the nerve inside your teeth have become infected and this cannot be treated with a filling. We recommend this procedure in the following situations:

Extensive decay

You may need a root canal if the inside of your tooth has suffered significant decay which cannot be treated using only fillings. Root canal treatment is a highly effective alternative to extraction and a way of preventing further problems. 

Loose or leaking fillings

A loose filling can cause infection to build up again. Your filling may start leaking and you may experience severe pain. If the decay reaches your nerve, it cannot be treated with a ‘refill’ or replacement filling and you will need a root canal. 

Cracked, fractured or broken teeth

If your tooth has a large crack or is broken, this can allow bacteria to build up and penetrate into the pulp under the enamel and dentin. 

Periodontal (gum) disease

If you have advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, this can cause an abscess to form on your gums, causing significant pain, difficulty eating and swallowing. You may need a root canal as well as periodontal treatment or antibiotics to treat any infection inside the tooth pulp and save infected teeth. 

Injury or trauma to teeth

If you have suffered a blow to your teeth, for example through playing contact sports, this can cause cracks or fractures where bacteria can enter the tooth pulp. Your tooth may grow dark and you may notice increased sensitivity to hot or cold food, as well as pain when chewing or biting. 

Repeated dental work

Repeated dental procedures can occasionally cause irritation or damage to the tooth pulp, especially if they are repeatedly carried out on the same tooth.

Types of root canal treatment

We perform two main types of root canal treatment in Enfield. These are standard endodontics and root canal surgery. You’ll find information about both here. 

Standard endodontics

1. Examination 

Our Endodontist will perform a full examination of the infected area and assess what treatment option is best for you. You will not necessarily need a root canal; some infections can be treated with antibiotics or non-invasive deep cleaning, while an extraction may be necessary in severe cases. 

2. Cleaning the infected tooth

We will remove your infected tissue by accessing and cleaning out the infected nerve. 

3. Filling and sealing 

We’ll fill the space with a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha, then seal your tooth, preventing bacteria from entering and causing further decay.

4. Aftercare 

It is normal to experience some discomfort following a root canal procedure; this is usually controlled by over-the-counter painkillers and normally resolves after 7 to 14 days. Patients experiencing severe infections of their teeth may occasionally experience facial swelling. Contact your dentist or your Endodontist if this is the case so that they can provide you with advice.

5. Follow-up and restoration

Because your tooth will be more fragile after the root canal procedure, we’ll place a crown over it during your follow-up visit. After this, your tooth will be fully functional. 

Endodontic surgery (apicoectomy) 

Sometimes, conventional root canal treatment is ineffective, often because the apex or tip of the root is still infected. In this case, your Endodontist may tell you that you need an apicoectomy, or removal of the tip of the infected root. During an apicoectomy, your Endodontist will make a small incision in your gums, remove the tip and clean out the infected area. We’ll then seal your tooth with a small filling. 

Who performs root canal treatment in Enfield?

Dr Sharon Stern grew up in South Africa and achieved a Bachelor in Dental Surgery from the University of Witwatersrand in 1999. After this she moved to the UK, where she has lived and worked ever since. In 2006, she began training at Guy’s Dental Hospital, and qualified as a Specialist in Endodontics in 2010. She has extensive experience in both university teaching on this subject and private practice, and is currently based across two dental practices, 90 Harley Street and Chase Side Dental Practice. 

Sharon is passionate about serving the local community by providing expert endodontic care for dental patients. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, spinning and painting. 

Read more about Sharon here.

Success Rates for Endodontic Treatment

The British Endodontic Society reports that root canal treatment has a success rate of up to 90% when carried out to a high standard. However, there is no way to guarantee a successful outcome from any medical or dental procedure, and problems can sometimes develop if the tooth begins to decay or the restoration fails. Sometimes, despite good oral hygiene, other factors may mean the tooth does not heal as expected.

Although it is rare that the treatment is unsuccessful, in this case further treatment and possible extraction of the tooth may be necessary.

Your dentist may recommend placing a crown on the tooth once the root canal treatment is complete. A crown protects the tooth from fractures and provides support. With a crown, the long-term prognosis of the tooth is better.

Potential complications of root canal treatment

If your tooth or teeth have severe infections, you may experience severe pain and facial swelling. While this is very rare, if you experience pain or swelling that worsens or is accompanied by fever, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible so we can help you.

A root canal procedure is carried out with fine instruments. In very rare cases, these instruments can fracture in the root canal. It may not always be possible to remove the fracture fragment; in most cases, this will not affect your treatment outcome or overall health. Occasionally, this can result in the root canal failing or needing to be retreated; if this happens, we will let you know and arrange a follow-up. However, recent advances in dental techniques mean that this is extremely rare.

Occasionally, these fine instruments may perforate the canal walls, which could affect the success of your endodontic surgery. This is also an extremely rare occurrence. However, if you experience pain or discomfort that worsens or does not get better after your treatment, contact us as soon as possible.

When a root canal procedure is performed through an existing crown, there is a risk the porcelain may fracture. Therefore, after a root canal, we usually recommend a new crown, although your Endodontist will let you know if this is the case.

To refer a patient, click here

Further information

Endodontics Information for Referred Patients

Apicoectomy (Root End Surgery) Consent Form

Endodontic (RCT) Information Leaflet

Endodontic (RCT) Post-op Instruction Leaflet