Root Canal Treatment in Hong Kong: All you Need to Know

If your teeth are badly decayed or infected, your dentist may suggest you to receive a root canal treatment that is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal while preserving your natural tooth. Root canal treatment is a common yet serious dental procedure. So before your appointment, here’s Alea to answer all the questions around root canal treatment for you.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment, sometimes referred to as simply “root canal”, is a dental procedure that removes the pulp (made up of nerves, connective tissues and blood vessels that support the tooth’s growth), clean and disinfect the inside of a tooth. The procedure aims to get rid of the bacteria that infect the root canal, as well as prevent reinfection of the tooth. Root canal treatment also helps repair and save your tooth, and often serves as an alternative to tooth removal.

While root canal treatment has a reputation of being very painful, it is in fact not more painful than other regular dental procedures like wisdom teeth removal.

When is root canal treatment needed?

Generally speaking, root canal treatment is necessary when infection or inflammation intrudes the pulp, the soft tissues inside the root canal, posing a threat to spread to other parts in the mouth or the bone. Before the condition worsens, a root canal treatment may be recommended to curb infection and get it contained. Injury of the tooth or the pulp may also signal the need for treatment.

Pain in your tooth, swelling and burning sensation in the gums are the most common symptoms of damaged or infected gums. You may want to schedule a visit to your dentist if you notice any of these symptoms. A thorough examination and X-ray may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine if a root canal is necessary.

Root canal treatment: Risks and side effects

As with all surgeries, root canal treatment comes with potential risks and side effects. When performed by a professional dentist or endodontist, these risks should be highly improbable and the side effects should be temporary.

Risks

• Sinus congestion
• Reinfection of the tooth
• Tooth cracking
• Damages on the side canals
• Chronic diseases

Side Effects

• Pain
• Swelling
• Numbness in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off
• Teeth color changes
• Tooth fracture

What to expect during the treatment?

Before the operation, your dentist or endodontist will explain the procedure to you and help you get into the right position. Be sure to let your dentist know if you have any chronic health conditions (e.g. diabetes and autoimmune disorders) or are taking regular medications.

When the operation starts, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the pain. Once the anesthetic comes into effect, the endodontist or dentist will make a small opening in the top of the concerned tooth to expose the infected or damaged pulp, which will then be removed using special tools. You will receive topical antibiotics post-operation to prevent reinfection and ensure recovery. Finally, the emptied canal will be filled and sealed with a sealer paste and rubber-like material, and the top opening with temporary material.

The whole operation takes from 90 minutes to 3 hours, sometimes performed in two appointments.

Before and after treatment: Dos and Don’ts

It is normal to feel uncomfortable after the surgery, but it is important to follow instructions from your dentist to ensure quick recovery, which typically takes within a few days to a week.

Root canal treatment options and costs in Hong Kong

Root canal treatment in the public sector

Government dental clinics do not provide root canal treatment to the public. For civil servants, primary school children and other eligible groups, please enquire the relevant department or clinic, such as the school dental care service clinic.

Root canal treatment in the private sector

The government-funded Prince Philip Dental Hospital stated their pricing for private root canal treatment varies from HK$ 6,600 - HK$ 25,000 (per tooth). Note that this pricing is for reference only and there may be add-on costs in private clinics for any special treatment required.

We have summed up some private options for your reference below:

Be sure to call in advance to enquire about their pricing and dentist’s availability before visiting the clinic.

Does health insurance cover root canal treatment in Hong Kong?

Individual or [company health insurance]/resources/health-insurance-for-startups-sme-in-hong-kong) may cover dental care but beware of dental limits and co-pay, if any. It is also important to note that certain products divide dental coverage into two categories with different sub-limits: routine dental and major dental. Root canal treatment generally falls under major dental procedures. Some plans also have a dental waiting period of 3 to 6 months. If you have any medical insurance questions, contact Alea’s health insurance experts at hello@alea.care.

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