Emergency root canal treatment in Guildford

Emergency root canal

Tooth pain that keeps you awake, throbs when you bite down, or comes with swelling in your face or gum is usually a sign of infection inside the tooth. Root canal treatment removes that infection and stops the pain at the source, and in most cases we can see you the same day.

Call 01483 506277 and tell reception it's a dental emergency. We'll ask a few quick questions about your symptoms and get you seen as fast as the diary allows.

Signs you need to be seen today, not next week

Some of these can wait for a routine appointment. These usually can't

• Pain that wakes you up at night or doesn't ease with over-the-counter painkillers.
• A tooth that's painful to touch, bite on, or breathe cold air near.
• Visible swelling in the gum, cheek, or jaw.
• A pimple-like spot on the gum near the sore tooth (a sign of a draining abscess).
• Pain following a recent filling, crown, or previous root canal that's come back.

If the swelling is spreading toward your eye or neck, or you're having trouble breathing or swallowing, that's a hospital emergency, not a dental one. Go to A&E or call 999.

What happens when you come in

Our team sees patients in this kind of pain every week, so you won't need to convince anyone it's urgent. We take an X-ray first to see how far the infection has spread and confirm the tooth can be saved. If root canal treatment is the right call, we numb the area and get started, often in the same visit.

For straightforward cases, your own dentist can complete the whole procedure in one appointment. For a tooth with curved or multiple canals, or where earlier treatment has failed, we bring in Dr Nadia Tawfiq, who has an MSc in Endodontics from the Eastman Dental Institute and works under a surgical microscope for the more difficult cases. Either way, the goal on the day is the same: get the infection out and get you out of pain.

Root canal or extraction: what we'll tell you on the day

When a tooth is badly infected, there are two ways to deal with it: treat the root canal and keep the tooth, or take it out. We'll always tell you honestly which one gives the better outcome for that specific tooth, rather than defaulting to the more involved option.

Root canal treatment is usually recommended when enough healthy tooth structure remains to make it worth saving. If the tooth is too badly broken down or the roots won't respond to treatment, extraction may be the more sensible choice, and we'll talk you through what replacing the tooth would involve.

What it costs

Emergency assessment and X-ray starts from £65. Root canal treatment itself starts from £350, with the more complex cases treated by Dr Nadia Tawfiq typically running £750–£950 depending on the tooth. We'll confirm Dr Nadia Tawfiqthe exact price after your X-ray, before we start any treatment, so there are no surprises. Full pricing is on our price list.

While you wait for your appointment

• Take the painkillers you'd normally use for a headache, following the packet instructions. Don't put aspirin directly against the gum or tooth; it doesn't help and can burn the tissue.
• Rinse gently with warm salt water a few times a day.
• Avoid very hot or cold food and drink on that side of your mouth.
• Don't chew on the painful tooth until you've been seen.

Urgent Dental Care in Surrey

• Practice Hours & Saturdays: Emergency dental services are available during regular practice hours, including Saturdays.

• After-Hours Emergencies: Call Principal Dentist Dr. Inas Hamdy directly at 01483 506277 for immediate out-of-hours support.

• Online Contact: Send a direct message on Facebook at facebook.com/SurreyDentalPractice1.

Root Canal Treatment FAQs

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