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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

696 Reviews

5.0

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.

27th August 2025

First of all, the reception staff are always pleasant and polite, and deal with you as soon as they can- sometimes the surgery is busy!Secondly, the clinician always shows proper old-fashioned courtesies when greeting you and saying goodbye after a consultation. He explains what treatment he is going to do with any possible outcomes, and always puts my mind at ease. A thoroughly easy and pleasant experience, regardless of what treatment is being performed. I have complete confidence in my dentist- and I'm sure the same can be said for all the clinicians at the practice.

27th August 2025

A problem with a previous treatment with a different dentist in the practice was sorted quickly and efficiently and more importantly cheaper than I thought it would be.

27th August 2025

I left a message on the contact form to say I had lost a crown over a bank holiday weekend. I was called early on the Tuesday and by 8.30 I had an appointment that same day. I was seen by Emmanuel, who was fabulous, explained everything clearly to a 60 year old women who hates the dentist! He and his assistant put me at ease and were fabulous. I cannot recommend highly enough. My crown was reseated and hopefully will stay in place.

24th August 2025

All staff are professional but very friendly and make you welcome. They make an effort to show they care.

23rd August 2025

Overall a good visit.

22nd August 2025

everyone is kind and friendly

21st August 2025

reception staff always friendly, warm and professional.Ian and Helen make me feel at ease and very friendly

21st August 2025

It’s close to home with pleasant, thorough, reassuring dentist & hygienist and effective treatment.

20th August 2025

Everyone was timely, courteous and professional

18th August 2025

The dentist took into account my fears and helped to alleviate some of my concerns

18th August 2025

All of the people who work there are exceptionally kind and caring putting me totally at ease. They really care about my experience with them.

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