Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is carried out to preserve a tooth that has become damaged as a result of bacterial infection. The root canal contains the pulp, which is the living tissue of the tooth. When this becomes infected, the tooth will effectively start to die from the inside. If the tooth is left untreated, then the end result is likely to be tooth extraction. Infection can occur as a result of decay or damage, or due to injury or an accident. Root canal treatment is a common procedure, which will often prevent the need for tooth removal.

Regular dental check-ups are always recommended, as this gives your dentist the chance to identify any signs that the pulp tissue is infected. There are certain symptoms you can also look out for:

• Pain when you bite or chew food
• Sensitivity, which causes pain when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and drinks
• The tooth may appear to be coming loose
• Swollen gum tissue around the affected tooth
• Pus emerging from the affected tooth
• Facial swelling

The procedure

The aim of root canal treatment is to remove bacteria from the root canal system. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel any pain or discomfort. Your dentist will access the root canal system through the crown of the tooth. The infected pulp will then be removed and the tooth cleaned. If you have a dental abscess, then this will also be drained. Once the root canal has been cleaned, your dentist will enlarge the canal so that it can be filled more easily. This process can take quite a long time and you may be asked to come back for another appointment.

The root canal is filled to prevent further infection and the tooth sealed, after which your dentist may place a new crown to make the tooth stronger.

Root canal treatment is usually very successful. For our more complex cases, we refer to our endodontist specialist colleague Dr Sanjeev Bhanderi at Endo 61

Following treatment

After root canal treatment, your tooth may feel a little sensitive and it is a good idea to avoid hard and chewy foods for a few days. If your treatment is carried out over a period of time, it is still wise to avoid these types of foods because they may cause pain. If you experience pain after the procedure, take over the counter painkillers and the pain should subside very quickly.

Nervous about root canal treatment

We recognise that a trip to the dentist may be a daunting prospect for some people, and the idea of having root canal treatment may fill a few with dread. We are trained to deal with nervous patients and will do everything we can to help you feel as relaxed as possible. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and you should not experience any pain. If you are nervous or worried, please do not hesitate to talk our team about this.