A root canal treatment is used to save a tooth which otherwise needs to be removed.
A root canal treatment is necessary when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (pulp) is infected through decay or injury. In the early stages of the infection you may not experience any pain, but once the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess which is characterized by an inflamed area in which pus gathers and can cause swelling of the area around the tooth. The symptoms of an abscess can range from a dull ache to severe pain, and the tooth may be quite tender when you bite. If root canal treatment is not done, the infection will eventually spread, and the tooth may need to be removed.
The objective of the treatment is to disinfect the root canal(s). The root canal system is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection.
Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure. Most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits to us. At the first appointment, the infected pulp is cleared, and the infection can be drained. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.
The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the canals are obturated and the tooth permanently filled.
Also, please note that there are certain cases that if we feel that there may be a complication with your treatment, we may refer you to an endodontist, who is a specialist in particularly complex root canals.
