Also known as endodontics, root canal treatment can save a tooth from being extracted while also preventing the infection from spreading in the mouth.
Why do I need a root canal?
It’s important for us to act fast if we have an infected tooth. Not only will it mean that we can provide relief for any dental pain, but we can also prevent the infection from turning into an abscess, which can lead to extracting the tooth.
Root canal treatment eliminates the infection, stopping it from spreading. It’s an effective treatment for helping keep your mouth free of bacteria and protecting your other teeth from harm.
As the pulp is removed and then the canals filled, the tooth is protected from reinfection.
Many people are nervous about root canal treatment because they assume that it will be painful. However, there is very little discomfort, if any. Patients who have had root canal treatment often compare it to having a filling. As we use local anaesthetic, there is no pain or sensation in the tooth while being treated.
Root canal treatment is carried out over two or more visits. For the first appointment, addressing the dental pain is the priority so it involves removing the inflamed and infected pulp. The canals are shaped using special tools so we can reach all the tissues in the tooth. As root canals are very narrow and fine, it takes a lot of care to shape them and prepare them for filling. This part of the treatment takes the longest and can be spread out over multiple appointments.
Between appointments, your tooth will be temporarily filled. On the second appointment, when the canals are properly shaped, we flush them with a disinfectant solution and then fill them. If the tooth has darkened due to the infection, we can use internal bleaching to restore the colour.
Once the canals are filled, we then finish with a filling or a crown to rebuild the tooth and restore it to full functionality.
