Call me back

We’re Accepting New Patients!

Read More Next

Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Root canal treatment

When a large cavity in a tooth reaches the nerve chamber, or in some cases when a tooth breaks, root canal treatment may be required. In order to save the tooth the Sturminster Dental Care team take great care to painlessly clean and fill infected tooth canals with the most up to date rotary systems, before adding a filling material to seal them.

Within every tooth is a nerve chamber and a blood supply in the root canal. In a healthy tooth, these nerves will be alive. Front teeth will normally have one root holding them in the jaw bone, but back teeth can have two, three or four.

If a large cavity in a tooth reaches the nerve chamber, or if a tooth breaks, bacteria can cause the nerves to die. The root canals can become infected and an abscess may form beneath the root(s) of the tooth, in the jawbone. Pain may occur at any time during this process, and the infection can spread.

Treatment is usually carried out over one or two visits to Sturminster Dental Care. The purpose of the treatment is to remove the bacteria or dying tissue from inside the tooth and to clean and disinfect the root canals. This is achieved by making a small hole through the tooth into the nerve chamber, locating and measuring the root canals, then cleaning and widening them using fine instruments. Local anaesthetic is used throughout the procedure to avoid any discomfort.

To aid the instrumentation of these intricate channels to the tooth, magnification may be used and if possible, the tooth will usually be isolated to keep the area dry and clear.

Once clean, the canals are filled to seal them off from re-infection. In most cases, infections will start to heal at this point.

Most patients only experience mild discomfort following treatment, but it is common to experience none at all.

Dentist

Ian Mercer

Ian joined {{ practice_name() }} in January 2016. lan-qualified from Guys Hospital Dental School in 1991 and has spent much of his professional career in the Royal Army Dental Corps including operational commitments in many countries. lan left the army in 2012 after serving for 21 years. Ian is really enjoying being part of the team and providing the best care to all of our patients.

Ian Mercer
Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Sturminster Dental Care. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

707 Reviews

5.0

16th September 2025

Friendly staff nice waiting room with television,

15th September 2025

Professional and caring team.

12th September 2025

I have complete trust in my dentist and the other staff are always extremely helpful.

10th September 2025

I was very satisfied with the treatment and care I received at my appointment, as I always have been.

9th September 2025

Excellent prompt response to a broken tooth requiring a filling/crown although the initial timescale for completing the work was delayed. The timescale was subsequently improved following replacement of a a temporary filing.

9th September 2025

The dentist is extremely professional and puts patients at ease.

8th September 2025

This was an extra appointment which was made for me between my regular checkups because à tooth was sensitive and I wanted it checked.I saw Ian as always and he was very kind and supportive. He explained that the filling is shallow and may need more work in the future, but he applied a cover and we agreed to monitor it. Problem solved. Thanks Ian!

7th September 2025

The efficiency, competence, and pleasant manner of the dentist. I had felt slightly anxious after the retirement of my previous dentist in whom I had great faith and disappointment that I could not register with Ian. This appointment with Mike Wiktor was a great start to dispelling those negative feelings.

6th September 2025

The team are all very courteous, helpful with queries and timely in their service.

5th September 2025

Professional throughout and just fantastic!

5th September 2025

Absolutely everyone made me feel that I was important to them. It went a long way to make me feel less nervous for my appointment.

3rd September 2025

Everything is fine. One comment re timing: the minor problem with appointments running late (which I accept is sometimes unavoidable) is that it can make parking very difficult - because the small car park is still full from the previous appointments.

2nd September 2025

Very professional service. Everyone is helpful and friendly. The car magazines in the loung (aka waiting room) are the latest so no problem with if the previous patient overruns a bit.I have dental plan with Stur Dental Care which is good value, in my opinion.

2nd September 2025

Friendly, spotlessly clean. Good treatment.

29th August 2025

Professional and friendly and respectful manner of all staff.

29th August 2025

Clinician is lovely and the reception staff are so friendly, polite and professional

29th August 2025

Friendly helpful staff, everything explained clearly, feel confident with everything there

28th August 2025

The friendliness and courtesy of the personel. I am a nervous patient and my dentist always talks to me in a relaxed and reassuring manner.

28th August 2025

Everything completed by competent and knowledgeable staff. Up to date with IT and dental practices. Everyone is welcoming, smiles and able to speak intelligible English. Thank you.

27th August 2025

All the staff from reception through to the hygienist, nurses and dentists are always welcoming and helpful . The level of care is excellent and everything is always explained.

Prev Previous
Next Next