The ultimate guide to Root Canal in Istanbul

If you had to choose between essential (but costly) root canal dental work and a holiday what would you choose? You can have both if you get your root canal in Istanbul , Turkey. The procedure will cost about half the amount in Istanbul—and you’ll get to spend some time in this fascinating city

Why Do I Need a Root Canal Treatment?

You’ll probably know about it if you do need a root canal. Although some people have no symptoms whatsoever, the majority do get tell-tale signs that something is not quite right. A slight tingling around the infected teeth progresses quickly to a swelling which may be painful and discharging pus. If an infection in the pulp chamber (the centre of the tooth where soft tissues, like nerves, are housed) is diagnosed by your dentist then you will need a root canal if you want to keep your tooth. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted. You’ll have a little time to decide what to do, as the dentist will usually prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection because the tooth must be free-of-infection before any root canal work is carried out.

Is a Root Canal Treatment Suitable for Dental Tourists?

Root canal treatments are suitable for dental tourists, but there are a number of steps to complete it in full—so you may need to be around longer than you think. Because of the nature of root canal treatments, it cannot be completed in one day—and you will have to go back 5-7 days after the procedure to have a permanent restoration (filling or crown) placed.

The procedure often strikes fear into the hearts of most people, although why this should be so is anybody’s guess. The treatment is itself is no worse than a filling with the most painful part the anaesthetising injection. Once the anaesthetic has taken hold you won’t feel any pain—but probably the worst thing about the treatment is that it can take some time, depending on how many tooth roots your particular tooth has, and how many root canals in each root. You should be prepared to be receiving treatment in the dentist’s chair for several hours, but afterward there is little downtime (apart from having to wait a few hours while the anaesthetic wears off). After that, you can just get on with your holiday without any pain.

What Happens During the Root Canal Procedure?

If you decide to take the plunge and head to Istanbul for your root canal, be sure to get a course of antibiotics from your dentist at home before you travel. That way, the dentist in Istanbul can commence treatment sooner, and if you only have a limited amount of time you can be on the way home sooner rather than later.

At your first consultation, the dentist will take x-rays and give your mouth a thorough examination to check the infection has cleared, and also to assess how many tooth roots your tooth has. The treatment commences with a local anaesthetic injected into your gum to numb the area around the tooth in question. To keep the area dry, a rubber dam is placed over the tooth and a drill is used to make a hole in the top of the tooth so that the dentist can access the pulp chamber. The process of removing the dead, infected tissue begins with the dentist clearing the pulp chamber, and then clearing the debris from each tooth root. When it’s all complete, each area is cleansed and an antibiotic medication may be placed before sealing the tooth with a temporary filling.

You will usually be required to wait for 5-7 days before going back for the permanent filling (or you may need a crown if the dentist has to remove a large area of decay on your tooth, which will leave the tooth structure weak).

If the dentist recommends a crown it may be possible to get it while you wait if your clinic has CAD/CAM technology, which allows the dentist to use digital 3D scans to take impressions of your mouth which can then be viewed on a computer. The crowns can also be designed on the computer to fit perfectly over the scanned image of your tooth and when you and your dentist are happy, the image is sent to an onsite laboratory where computer software instructs a milling machine to make the crown. Once complete, your dentist can fit it there and then and you can be on your way.

What are the Prices for Root Canals in Istanbul?

The table below shows the price of root canals in Istanbul, compared to other countries:

Will the Quality of a Root Canal in Istanbul be as Good as Home?

The dentists in Istanbul are highly trained and skilled, offering you dental care that is easily on a par with anything you would receive at home. Dental tourism is quite popular to Istanbul and dentists are used to receiving international patients. Many of the clinics are very modern, equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology, such as CAD/CAM, digital x-rays and 3D/CD scanning. Most are also signed up to internationally-recognized standards on hygiene and safety, such as the ISO’s.

That said, we recommend you always do your own research to find a good clinic. However, if you book with Dental Departures you can rely on our listings as we’ve already done the background checks. Dentist qualifications, professional memberships and onsite visits are carried out, as well as publication of patient testimonials, clinic photos and treatment prices. You can see the information yourself under each clinic listing to help you make your own informed choice on the clinic to choose. Check out some of our popular clinics for root canals below:

Dentakademi Dental Healthcare Center

Istanbul Dental Clinic

Dent Group International - Istanbul

Further Information 

For further information about root canals in Istanbul get in touch with our Customer Care Team who will be happy to answer any questions, book an appointment or get you a free quote.