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Dr. Yusuf İşler
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Root Canal Treatment in Istanbul, Turkey

Medically reviewed by Dr. Yusuf İşlerLast updated:

Quick answer

A root canal (endodontic) treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, disinfects the fine canals and seals them, saving a tooth that would otherwise be lost. Done under local anaesthetic with a dental microscope, it is no more painful than a routine filling. Root canal treatment is usually completed over one or two visits; contact us for a personalised, itemised quote once we've reviewed your case.

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2 billion
people worldwide have untreated tooth decay in permanent teeth
WHO
1–2 visits
usual visits to complete a root canal
90%+
treated teeth still functioning years later

What a root canal actually does

Inside every tooth is a soft core called the pulp, the nerves and blood vessels that once fed the tooth as it grew. When deep decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp, it becomes inflamed or infected, and that is what causes throbbing pain and abscesses. A root canal removes the damaged tissue, disinfects and shapes the fine canals inside the root, then seals them with gutta-percha, so the tooth stays in your mouth instead of being pulled.

Does a root canal hurt? The honest answer

The reputation is worse than the reality. The pain people remember is usually the infection before treatment, not the treatment itself. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure and vibration but not pain. Most patients say it feels like having a filling. Afterwards the tooth can be tender for a few days and is easily managed with standard painkillers.

Why we treat under a dental microscope

Root canals are millimetres wide, frequently curved, and there are sometimes more of them than the naked eye expects. Dr. İşler treats with a dental operating microscope so each canal can be found, cleaned and sealed accurately, the single biggest factor in whether a root canal lasts. Thorough cleaning and a tight seal mean fewer missed canals and a lower chance the infection returns.

Save the tooth or replace it with an implant?

When a tooth is restorable, keeping it is almost always the better first choice: your own tooth preserves the surrounding bone, costs less and needs no surgery. An implant is an excellent replacement, but it is a bigger, slower and more expensive route you only want when the tooth genuinely cannot be saved. Dr. İşler will tell you honestly which category your tooth is in, and if a root canal has a poor outlook, he will say so rather than treat a tooth that is unlikely to survive.

What it costs, honestly

The cost of a root canal depends on how many canals the tooth has, and most teeth need a crown afterwards to protect them from fracturing. Rather than a guessed figure, your written, itemised quote is based on your X-ray or CBCT and agreed before any treatment. Contact us for a personalised quote. The crown carries a written warranty, and we are candid about the small chance that a root-treated tooth needs re-treatment later.

Key terms explained

Dental pulp
The soft core of nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth; when it becomes infected or inflamed, a root canal is needed.
Endodontics
The branch of dentistry that treats the inside of the tooth (the root canal system) to save it rather than remove it.
Periapical abscess
A pocket of infection at the tip of the root, caused by bacteria inside the tooth, which a root canal clears.
Gutta-percha
The rubber-like, biocompatible material used to fill and seal the cleaned canals so bacteria cannot return.

Frequently asked questions

Does a root canal hurt?
Not the way its reputation suggests. The treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure but no pain. Most patients compare it to a routine filling. The severe pain people associate with root canals is usually the infection beforehand, which the treatment actually relieves.
How many visits does a root canal take?
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth and whether there is active infection. A back molar with several canals, or a badly infected tooth, may need a second visit to be sure it is fully clean before sealing. If you also need a crown, that is usually fitted at a follow-up appointment.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Usually yes, especially on molars and premolars that take heavy chewing forces. A root-treated tooth becomes more brittle, so a crown protects it from fracturing and greatly improves how long it lasts. Some front teeth can be restored with a filling instead. Dr. İşler advises what each tooth needs.
Is it better to have a root canal or pull the tooth and get an implant?
If the tooth can be saved, a root canal is usually the better first choice. It keeps your natural tooth, preserves bone, costs less and avoids surgery. An implant is an excellent option when a tooth genuinely cannot be saved, but it is a bigger and slower treatment. We give you an honest assessment rather than pushing the more expensive route.
How much does root canal treatment cost in Istanbul?
A root canal is significantly more affordable than comparable UK private work, with a zirconia crown where the tooth needs one. Your fixed, itemised quote depends on your X-ray or CBCT and is agreed in writing before any treatment. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Why do you use a dental microscope?
Root canals are millimetres wide, often curved, and teeth can hide extra canals. A microscope lets Dr. İşler find, clean and seal every canal accurately, which is the main factor in whether the treatment lasts. Better sealing means a lower chance the infection returns.
I'm travelling from abroad. Can you assess me first?
Yes. Send a recent X-ray or CBCT and photos on WhatsApp, and Dr. İşler will review whether the tooth is restorable and send a fixed quote before you travel. If the tooth turns out not to be savable, he will tell you honestly and discuss the alternatives.

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Send your X-ray on WhatsApp and get a fixed, itemised quote.

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