Throbbing, persistent toothache
Pain that comes at night, throbs or wakes you — a classic sign of pulpitis.
01 — Initial endodontic treatment
Root canal treatment
in Kiel.
Microscopically precise. Under rubber dam. In most cases pain-free and completed in 1 to 2 visits. Advanced endodontics in Kiel-Düsternbrook — bookable directly, without a referral.
What is it?
Preserving your
own tooth.
Root canal treatment is the only way to save a tooth with an inflamed or necrotic pulp — instead of extracting it. We remove the infected tissue from the root canal system, clean and disinfect every canal however fine, and seal it tightly and three-dimensionally.
What makes the difference is visibility. Root canals are often just 0.1 millimetres wide, curved and branching — invisible without a microscope. With 25× magnification we see what others overlook: lateral canals, isthmuses, calcifications, separated instruments.
The result: root canal treatments with over 95% long-term success rate — even for teeth considered ‘not worth preserving’ elsewhere.
When is it needed?
Reading the signs
correctly.
A root canal treatment becomes necessary when the pulp — the nerve tissue inside the tooth — is inflamed or has died. Typical symptoms:
Markedly prolonged sensitivity to cold or heat
When pain after a cold or hot stimulus lasts several minutes instead of fading within seconds.
Sensitivity when biting
The tooth hurts when you bite down or feels ‘longer’ — a sign of apical inflammation.
Swelling of the gum
A pimple-like swelling (sinus tract) points to chronic inflammation at the root apex.
Discolouration of a single tooth
If a tooth turns greyish or darker, the pulp has usually died — this needs treatment even without pain.
Incidental finding on an X-ray
Apical radiolucencies at the root end — often symptom-free for years, but chronically inflamed.
Important: A dead tooth often does not hurt — but the bacteria migrate into the jawbone. If you notice any of the symptoms above, we recommend a prompt assessment — the earlier treatment begins, the better the prospects of success.
Our approach
Four tools
for precision.
A modern root canal treatment stands or falls with the equipment and the experience of the practitioner. We invest in both — without compromise.
Dental operating microscope
Up to 25× magnification. Only then do structures become visible that the human eye cannot detect — lateral canals, isthmuses, separated instruments, fine cracks.
Rubber dam
A thin latex or nitrile sheet isolates the tooth from the mouth. Saliva and bacteria stay outside. Standard in modern endodontics — and a prerequisite for any lasting success.
CBCT — 3D imaging
Three-dimensional imaging directly at the practice. Hidden canals, root fractures and the true extent of the inflammation become visible — before treatment, not afterwards. More on CBCT diagnostics
NiTi file system
Highly elastic nickel-titanium files follow the natural canal anatomy instead of straightening it. Gentler on tooth structure, more precise in the result.
Ultrasonic activation
Irrigating solutions are activated by ultrasound in every canal — bacterial biofilms are removed even where a file cannot reach mechanically.
Three-dimensional filling
Warm vertical condensation with gutta-percha and a bioceramic sealer — the canal is sealed completely and tightly, right into the finest lateral canals.
How treatment works
What to
expect.
01
Diagnosis & information
Clinical examination, vitality testing, 2D X-ray — and CBCT in complex cases. We discuss your situation, the possible alternatives and the treatment plan openly.
02
Local anaesthesia & rubber dam
Pain-free anaesthesia of the tooth. We then isolate the tooth with a rubber dam — a central element of every modern root canal treatment.
03
Microscopic canal preparation
Under 25× magnification we locate every canal orifice. Gentle preparation with NiTi files, irrigation with activated disinfectant solutions.
04
Tight root filling
Warm vertical condensation with gutta-percha and a bioceramic sealer. The canal system is sealed three-dimensionally — including the finest lateral canals and isthmuses.
05
Temporary restoration
The tooth is sealed tightly with a temporary restoration straight away — no bacteria can get in. You leave the practice with a stable restoration.
06
Definitive restoration
The tooth should be definitively restored within 4–6 weeks — usually with a crown (back teeth) or a build-up filling (front teeth). Your own dentist carries out this restoration.
07
Follow-up appointment
After 6 and 12 months we check the healing radiographically. In more than 95% of our treatments the apical inflammation has healed by then.
08
Long-term preservation
Statistically, a tooth that is tightly treated and properly restored lasts as long as a healthy tooth — often a lifetime. Your oral hygiene and regular check-ups secure the result.
95%+
Success rate
Scientifically documented for root canal treatments carried out microscopically under rubber dam.
25×
Magnification
Dental operating microscope for every step — from access to filling.
1–2
Visits
In most cases 1–2 visits of 60–90 minutes are enough for a complete treatment.
Costs
What does
treatment cost?
The statutory health insurance covers basic care for incisors and canines as well as most back teeth — under certain conditions (whether the tooth is worth preserving under the guidelines of the G-BA, the German joint committee for statutory health care).
The additional work for microscopic precision — dental operating microscope, specialised irrigation protocols, three-dimensional root filling — is charged privately as an additional service, because these measures go beyond the standard covered by statutory insurance.
Patients with private health insurance generally receive full reimbursement under the GOZ (the German scale of dental fees).
Guide prices
- Front tooth (1 canal): approx. €400–600
- Premolar (1–2 canals): approx. €500–800
- Molar (3–4 canals): approx. €700–1,200
- Complex retreatment: approx. €800–1,500
Before every treatment we draw up a written, transparent cost estimate — so you know exactly what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
Answers
before your appointment.
The questions patients ask us most often — answered briefly and concretely.
Is a root canal treatment painful?
No. With modern local anaesthesia the treatment itself is pain-free. Pain typically arises before treatment, caused by the inflamed pulp — the treatment removes that source of pain.
In the first 24–72 hours after treatment the tooth may be somewhat sensitive to biting. These residual symptoms subside quickly and can be managed well with ordinary over-the-counter painkillers.
How many appointments does a root canal treatment take?
In most cases 1 to 2 visits of 60–90 minutes each are enough. In complex cases — branching root systems, severely inflamed teeth, retreatments — further appointments for a medicated dressing may be necessary.
We discuss the likely number of appointments with you after the initial examination.
What does a root canal treatment in Kiel cost?
Costs vary with the complexity of the case, between 400 and 1,200 euros for the initial treatment. The statutory health insurance covers basic care — the additional work for microscopic precision is charged privately.
Patients with private insurance generally receive full reimbursement. We draw up a written cost estimate before treatment begins.
How long does a root-treated tooth last?
With proper microscopic treatment and a subsequent tight restoration, a root-treated tooth lasts statistically just as long as a healthy tooth — often a lifetime.
The prerequisite is a prompt definitive restoration with a crown or build-up filling, which prevents new bacteria from entering.
Do I need a referral for root canal treatment?
No. You can book an appointment with us directly — as a practice with a dedicated focus on endodontics we treat both referred patients and those who come to us directly.
If your own dentist refers you, please bring your current X-ray with you.
What happens if I don’t have the root canal treatment done?
An untreated inflamed or necrotic pulp leads to the spread of bacteria into the jawbone — up to an abscess or a sinus tract. The tooth then usually has to be extracted.
Root canal treatment is the only way to keep your own tooth. An implant is possible, but more involved and more expensive — and an implant never fully replaces the natural function of a preserved tooth.
When is a retreatment (second root canal treatment) worthwhile?
If an existing root filling is no longer tight or the inflammation at the root end has not healed, a root canal retreatment is usually the first choice — before extraction is considered.
Here too, the success rate of retreatments carried out microscopically is over 85%.
Can I eat normally after the treatment?
Until the anaesthetic has worn off (approx. 2–3 hours) you should not eat, so that you do not accidentally bite your cheek or lip.
After that you can eat normally — for the first few days we recommend not chewing particularly hard foods with the treated tooth until the definitive restoration is in place.
Further treatments
When initial treatment
is not enough.
Advanced endodontics goes beyond the classic root canal treatment — the right solution for every case.
root canal retreatment
Endodontic retreatment
Saving already treated teeth once more — even when others advise against it.
Find out more SurgeryApicoectomy
A microsurgical procedure when orthograde treatment reaches its limits.
Find out more DiagnosticsCBCT — 3D imaging
Three-dimensional imaging for predictable results and maximum precision.
Find out more SpecialInstrument & post removal
Removing separated instruments or root posts microscopically.
Find out moreBook
Tooth hurting?
We can help.
Bookable directly, without a referral. Emergency appointments available. Wurzelwerk practice — Niemannsweg 46, Kiel-Düsternbrook.