Root Canal Treatment

Inside teeth is the pulp which contains nerve and blood vessels. If a tooth is decayed or has had repeated dental treatment or fractures, bacteria can enter the root canal and cause the pulp to become infected. An infected nerve may cause pain and can lead to abscesses.

 The aim of endodontics is to prevent disease within the tooth and surrounding bone by cleaning and disinfecting the root canals, prior to filling these canals to prevent re-entry of bacteria. This is known as root canal treatment.

 Root canal treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic and is painless, although patients may suffer some sensitivity afterwards, which normally settles after a short while and can be relieved with normal painkillers. Depending on the complexity of the case, treatment may be carried out in one to two sessions, with each session lasting between one and two hours.

 Some factors affecting endodontic treatment (such as root fractures) can only be identified when treatment is started, and some teeth may not be able to be fixed.

 After root canal treatment has been carried out teeth are weakened and more susceptible to fracture and we therefore recommend the placement of a crown on a back tooth to prevent it from splitting.

 As with anything, root canal treatment is not 100% successful, though studies have shown a success rate of approximately 90 per cent.

 Some teeth cannot be saved and the only option is for extraction of these teeth. The options for restoring the resulting gap includes the use of dental implants.

 If you are experiencing dental pain or know that you have an infected tooth please arrange an appointment with one of our dentists.