ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Root canal treatment involves the removal of nerve and pulp from an infected tooth. Without treatment, the infection will spread around the mouth that can lead to abscesses. The root canal is a natural cavity containing its nerve. Having your tooth with or without nerves does not affect the normal functioning of your teeth. The only function nerves serve is the feeling of hot, cold and other sensations.

An infected tooth will start to decay and the roots can become infected. If this happens, pus and other decayed debris may accumulate near the gum-line as well as between the root canal of a tooth’s narrow opening. The pain will normally alert you that there may be something wrong. Other symptoms can include swelling that can spread across the face and neck, as well as bone loss around the root tip.

The tooth’s nerve and pulp and become infected due to various dental procedures or trauma to the face and teeth. If you don’t take action in treating the symptoms, this could lead to bigger problems such as an abscessed tooth and jaw bone infection.

Symptoms that you may require surgery include severe toothache when chewing. You might suffer prolonged sensitivity when teeth are exposed to hot and cold temperatures. The infected tooth may also appear a darker colour. You may also experience tenderness and swelling in the gum area surrounding the infected tooth.

A root canal may require one or more visits to the dentist. An x-ray will be taken to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area surrounding the tooth and make the patient more comfortable. A sheet of rubber will be placed around the tooth (a rubber dam) to prevent the area becoming wet from saliva. A hole will then be drilled into the infected tooth. The dentist will then remove the pulp along with bacteria, the decayed nerve tissue and any debris. Root canal files are then used to clean the canal. Water or sodium hypochlorite is used to flush away the debris. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. There are a few different schools of thought about when to seal the tooth. Some dentists may choose to wait and seal your tooth in seven days if you have an infection, while others will do it on the same day as cleaning. If they haven’t completed root canal work during that appointment, then some temporary filling comes into play until next time around! The tooth is filled with a sealer paste and gutta percha rubber compound, which will help protect the area from future infection. A filling to cover up any remaining hole in your teeth created at the beginning of treatment may also be placed before you leave. Finally it’s time for restoration; all that remains now are minor cosmetic changes like replacing what little was removed or having an artificial crown put on top of your natural one so as not to risk breakage later down the road when chewing becomes more vigorous again after healing has taken place.

Root canal procedures are no more painful than having a filling placed.

You may experienced heightened sensitivity for the first few days due to tissue inflammation. Most patients can return to life as normal the next day. You should avoid chewing on the tooth until a permanent filling or crown is fitted. This will help avoid further infections.

95% of cases will be successful and should last a lifetime.

On the odd occasion, minor complications can arise. This could result in having more than one hole or crack that wasn’t treated during the first procedure. Complications can also arise when the restoration doesn’t seal the area completely, allowing bacteria to reinfect the tooth. If you suffer complications, another root canal can be performed again.