Root Canal Treatment / Endo

Endodontic treatment is more widely known as Root Canal Therapy (RCT) and is a procedure that provides us with the ability to save a tooth that may otherwise require extraction.  It has long been misrepresented as a painful procedure; however the main purpose of root canal therapy is to relieve pain caused by an infected, inflamed or abscessed tooth root.
Healthy nerve of tooth
Decayed tooth
Endodontic root canal treatment
Endodontic treatment complete with restoration

 

With the innovations in dental medicine, pain management anaesthetics and the development of specially designed instruments, root canal therapy can be completed in total comfort in as little as two appointment visits.

The prime objective of endodontics is to save and restore a tooth to its full strength and appearance.  Some symptoms to indicate you may need root canal treatment are:

  • A tooth with severe sensitivity when you bite down or push it with your tongue
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold which lasts for longer than a few seconds
  • Swelling of your face and gum near the infected tooth
  • A tooth with deep decay
  • A fractured tooth
  • Breakdown or loss of a filling
  • An injury to the pulp but not to the tooth caused by an accident or trauma

Without effective and quick treatment, it can cause extensive pain and an abscess may develop.  In cases where the infection has not been addressed the tooth may even require removal.

Prior to the commencement of any treatment, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment examination to determine the most suitable treatment option for you; this may also include several radiographs.  From this we will be able to develop a tailored treatment programme.

Your comfort is our priority; a local anaesthetic is administered and will numb the entire area so you are completely relaxed.  A latex sheet called a dam is placed around the tooth receiving treatment to keep the area sterile, dry and protected, it will also prevent the spread of any infection.

If treatment is required as a result of tooth decay, it is firstly removed before a chamber to access the tooth roots is carefully made in the top of your tooth.  The infected pulp is then removed, the root chambers are cleaned sterilised, re-shaped and smoothed.  To fill your root canal chamber, miniature cone shaped rubber seals called, gutta percha are placed, which is designed to prevent any further infection.

Often following root canal treatment your tooth will be brittle as a portion of the natural tooth structure needs to be removed to enable access to the tooth root.  In this case a crown will need to be placed to restore its strength and appearance.  Should an extensive amount of your tooth need to be removed due to the effects of decay, a titanium post, similar to that used for a dental implant can be placed to provide extra support.

You may experience some post-treatment swelling for several days following your procedure.  A cold compress and over-the-counter pain relief medication can alleviate discomfort.  We will schedule a follow-up exam to monitor the healing of your gum.

Some teeth can discolour as a result of a fracture, and accident or decay infects the pulp.   During your root canal treatment, an internal bleaching agent can be applied to restore your tooth’s natural colour and appearance.  Application of this whitening treatment may require several appointments.  Internal tooth whitening of is usually done when most of the tooth’s natural structure is remaining.

Today root canal therapy has a success rate of over 95%.  However, delaying your appointment and treatment can result in the infection spreading.  In circumstances such as this, the procedure may need to be repeated.  The earlier your treatment is conducted the less likely this will be required.