Root Canal Therapy
The primary objective of root canal therapy is to relieve pain caused by an infected root and save your natural tooth from extraction.
The common misconception is that root canal therapy is a painful procedure; however, it is the infection in your tooth that is the cause of the pain. The longer you delay having a root canal procedure the more severe the pain and extensive the infection will become. With the development of new dental techniques and fine instruments, root canal therapy can be completed without any discomfort.
Your tooth can be divided into two sections; the crown is the visible white enamel above your gum-line; and the root being what is below your gum-line.
Under your tooth’s enamel layer is dentin, a porous tissue harder than bone, which surrounds the pulp, the soft tissue inside your tooth chamber consisting of nerves and lymph vessels, a tooth can have as few as one or as many as four root canals.
A thorough assessment examination is conducted to determine the best treatment options and may include a full set of x-rays to ascertain the severity of your condition. Following this, our dentist will develop a treatment programme with you.
A local anaesthetic is administered to numb the entire area before a dam (a latex sheet) is placed around the tooth receiving treatment to keep the area sterile, dry and prevent the spread of infection.
If the need for treatment is caused because of decay, it is removed before an access hole is gently made in the top of your crown and with clinical precision the infected pulp removed. The area is then cleaned, sterilised and each root chamber re-shaped.
Miniature cone shaped rubber seals called, gutta percha are placed inside the root chambers, thereby preventing any further infection.
Dependant upon your personal situation and extent of the infection that has caused the need for treatment, antibiotics or other medication may need to be placed in order to fight the bacterial infection, prior to sealing your tooth chamber.
Once your tooth has been filled, it is restored with a porcelain crown giving it a natural appearance and strength. If there has been extensive damage to the tooth structure caused by deep infection, a titanium post, similar to that used for an implant may be placed for additional support.
Continuation of a regular oral hygiene routine of brushing twice daily, flossing once a day and regular appointments for professional cleaning by our team will keep your mouth, teeth and gums in optimum condition.
Although over 95% of root canal therapy is successful, there are rare occasions when the procedure will need to be redone due to further infection. The earlier your treatment is performed the less likely this will be required.