Saving teeth in Küsnacht-Goldbach
Root canal treatment in Küsnacht: laser, digital X-rays and costs explained
With root canal treatment in Küsnacht, we aim to save your own tooth. It is also called root canal therapy, or simply a root canal. We clean the inflamed canal inside the tooth and seal it tightly. The laser targets bacteria in the canal. Digital X-rays show what is happening in the tooth. If the tooth then needs a crown, we make it from ceramic with CEREC at the clinic itself. If you are looking for a dentist in Küsnacht-Goldbach by the station, you will find Zahnklinik Küsnacht at Goldbacherstrasse 3a. Are you mainly worried about pain? Our guide explains whether a root canal hurts.
When is root canal treatment necessary?
How the pulp becomes inflamed
Inside every tooth is the pulp, which most people call the nerve. It consists of nerve fibres and blood vessels and supplies the tooth. It runs from the crown of the tooth through fine canals down to the root tips. These canals are called root canals.
Bacteria can reach the pulp through deep decay, a crack in the tooth or a leaking filling. The tissue then becomes inflamed. An accident can also damage the nerve. Inflammation in the root canal often hurts and puts the tooth at risk. If the inflammation can no longer heal, root canal treatment is often the way to save the tooth.
Typical signs worth having checked
The following symptoms can point to an inflamed or dead tooth nerve. However, they can also have other causes. Only an examination with an X-ray gives a clear answer.
- pain from hot or cold that lasts a minute or longer after the trigger
- pain that comes on for no reason and often throbs
- pain when you bite down or when the tooth is tapped
- swelling of the gum above the root or of the cheek
- a tooth that turns grey
How we treat root canals at Zahnklinik Küsnacht
The steps below are part of root canal treatment at our clinic. Our guide explains the general procedure and how long root canal treatment takes.
Diagnosis with digital X-rays
The first step is an examination with an X-ray. It shows the roots, their canals and any inflammation at the root tip. We use digital X-rays, with around 80 per cent less radiation than conventional methods. We only take X-rays when they are needed.
Cleaning the canals and removing inflamed tissue
Next, we clean the root canals thoroughly. This removes the inflamed tissue from the canals. The laser kills bacteria in the canal.
A tight seal against new bacteria
Finally, we seal the cleaned canals tightly. This is meant to stop new bacteria from getting into the tooth. The tooth stays in place in the jaw and can be rebuilt.
If the tooth needs a CEREC crown
If the treated tooth needs a crown, we give it a tooth-coloured ceramic crown. It is stable and hard to tell apart from the neighbouring teeth. We make it with the CEREC system at the clinic itself, in two to three hours. Our page on ceramic crowns we make ourselves with CEREC shows how this works.
What the laser does in root canal treatment
In laser root canal treatment, we use laser light while cleaning the canal. It kills bacteria there. The inflammation inside the tooth usually starts with these bacteria. In surgical procedures, there is also hardly any bleeding with the laser. Our laser page explains how we use the laser in other treatments.
Nobody can promise that root canal treatment will succeed. We discuss the prospects for your tooth with you after the examination.
How much does a root canal cost in Switzerland?
The cost of root canal treatment depends heavily on the tooth and on what the examination finds. That is why we do not give a fixed price here. An estimate is only possible once the tooth has been examined and the treatment planned. We bill transparently under the Dentotar tariff, with our tax point value (Taxpunktwert, explained below) of CHF 1.13, and we discuss costs openly with you. Feel free to ask us about them before treatment.
What the price of a root canal depends on
These points mainly determine the amount:
- whether a front tooth or a back tooth is treated, as back teeth usually have more root canals
- how branched or curved the canals are
- how far the inflammation has spread
- how many appointments the treatment needs
- how many X-rays are needed
- the crown afterwards, which is charged as a separate item
How dentists in Switzerland calculate the bill
Dentists who belong to the Swiss Dental Association (SSO) bill according to the dental tariff (Zahnarzttarif). The tariff for private patients is called Dentotar. Each of its more than 500 services has a fixed number of tax points (Taxpunkte). The number reflects the average time the service takes. For the bill, it is multiplied by the tax point value to give an amount in francs.
The tax point value is not the same everywhere. Under the tariff, it may be no more than CHF 1.70 for private patients. Below that limit, each practice is free to set its own value. The frequently asked questions below explain what health insurance covers.
Frequently asked questions about root canal treatment
Is your question not listed? Call us or send us an email.
+41 44 915 17 77Is root canal therapy the same as root canal treatment?
Yes, both terms mean the same treatment. The short form “a root canal” is also common. It refers to the canal in the tooth root, where the work takes place. This area of dentistry, the treatment of the inside of the tooth, is called endodontics.
Can a tooth need a root canal if it doesn't hurt?
Yes. When the tooth nerve dies, the pain often stops for anything from hours to weeks. However, the inflammation can continue, and at the root tip it may only show up on an X-ray. Our page on preventive care shows what we check at a check-up.
Is a root canal better than pulling the tooth?
Where it is clinically possible, keeping your own tooth comes first. A pulled tooth leaves a gap that usually needs filling later, for example with an implant or a bridge. We decide together after the examination which option suits your tooth. Find out more about fillings and other ways we save teeth.
Can every tooth be saved with root canal treatment?
No. Limits include a deep crack in the root, too little healthy tooth structure or severe bone loss around the tooth. In such cases, it may make more sense to pull the tooth. Only an examination with an X-ray shows whether your tooth has good prospects.
Does health insurance cover a root canal in Switzerland?
Usually not, because in Switzerland dental treatment is generally not covered by the compulsory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung). There are exceptions only in narrowly defined cases. They include severe, unavoidable diseases of the chewing system, dental treatment needed because of a severe general illness, and accidents if no other insurance pays. Your policy states whether your supplementary dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) pays anything towards it.
Your root canal appointment in Küsnacht
For root canal therapy in Küsnacht, the easiest way to request an appointment is our online form. Choose “Root canal treatment” there.
If your tooth hurts badly
If you are in severe pain, call us on +41 44 915 17 77. You can also reach us on this number in a dental emergency. The phone is not staffed during all opening hours. Outside opening hours, our emergency phone +41 79 524 74 40 is for real emergencies only. For anything else, please send us an email or a WhatsApp message. We are happy to arrange appointments outside opening hours. As a rule, we can give you noticeable relief as early as the first appointment. Our emergency page explains what you can do about acute toothache.
Finding us in Goldbach
Our address is Goldbacherstrasse 3a, right by Küsnacht Goldbach station. If you come by car, there is parking. The clinic is accessible by wheelchair or rollator. For everything else, see our directions to Goldbach by S-Bahn and car.
Related pages
- Guide to modern root canal treatment
Pain, the procedure and duration explained in general terms.
- Saving damaged teeth with laser and CEREC
How we save and restore damaged teeth.
- CEREC crowns we produce in-house
Ceramic crowns and veneers made at the clinic.
- The dental laser at Zahnklinik Küsnacht
The laser instead of the drill for decay, and its use on the gums and in surgery.
Have your tooth examined
Only an examination shows whether a tooth needs root canal treatment. Request an appointment online or give us a call.