Root canal treatment in Busan
Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, disinfects the canals and seals them, which relieves the pain and saves the tooth. At Dr. Oh's Dental Clinic in Haeundae, Busan, most cases take two to four visits, and the tooth usually needs a crown afterwards.
Signs you may need one
- Severe, throbbing toothache, often worse at night or when lying down
- Lingering pain after hot or cold — seconds or minutes rather than an instant twinge
- Pain on biting, or a tooth that feels raised
- A swollen gum or a small pimple-like spot near the tooth
- A tooth that has darkened compared with its neighbours
Pain that stops entirely is not reassurance. The nerve can die and the infection continue silently into the bone. If you have had significant toothache that has since disappeared, still get it examined.
What actually happens during treatment
The tooth is numbed and isolated with a rubber dam. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth, the pulp chamber and canals are cleaned with fine instruments and irrigating solutions, and the canals are shaped so they can be sealed. Once clean and dry they are filled with a rubber-like material and sealed. X-rays are taken during the process to confirm the working length.
Because the tooth is already anaesthetised, the procedure itself is not painful. The reputation root canals have comes largely from the toothache that precedes them.
Why the tooth usually needs a crown afterwards
A root-treated tooth has lost its blood supply and a significant amount of internal structure. Back teeth in particular become prone to splitting under chewing force. A crown holds the remaining tooth together. Skipping it is a common reason root canals fail years later — not because the treatment was poor, but because the tooth fractured.
Root canal or extraction?
Keeping a natural tooth is almost always preferable to removing it, because extraction starts a chain: the gap, then bone loss, then drifting of the neighbouring teeth, then an implant or bridge to fix it. Extraction becomes the sensible option when the tooth is fractured below the gum, when too little structure remains to restore, or when severe gum disease has already destroyed its support. We will show you the X-ray and explain which situation applies.
Frequently asked questions
Is a root canal painful?
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and should not hurt. Mild tenderness when biting for a few days afterwards is normal and responds to ordinary painkillers. Severe pain after treatment is not expected — contact us if it happens.
How many visits does a root canal take?
Usually two to four, spaced about a week apart, depending on the number of canals and whether there is active infection. Front teeth with a single canal are often quicker; molars with three or four canals take longer. The crown afterwards adds a further two visits.
Is root canal treatment covered by Korean health insurance?
Yes. Endodontic treatment is covered by National Health Insurance, so the patient pays a co-payment rather than the full fee. Foreign residents enrolled in NHIS receive the same coverage as Korean nationals. The crown afterwards may be partly or fully private depending on the material.
Can I fly after a root canal?
Generally yes, once the tooth has been properly sealed and any infection is under control. Flying with an untreated, actively infected tooth is what causes trouble, because pressure changes can intensify the pain. If you are flying soon, tell us and we will plan the sequence around it.