Root Canal Treatment
Significant pain and abscess formation can be caused by a dead or infected tooth.
This can be caused by:
A deep cavity
Cracks
Severe wear
Acid attack
Trauma
Provided you have enough tooth structure, the only way to save a dead tooth is to perform root canal treatment.
What happens during a root canal procedure?
The tooth is numbed up with a local anaesthetic and is accessed from the top to remove all the damaged and or infected nerve tissue.
Depending on the amount of bacteria and the number of nerves in the tooth (a molar tooth can have up to 4 nerves in it) the treatment may be completed over 2-3 visits.
The 2nd appointment is usually the longest and most complex as we have to ensure the roots are cleaned free of any bacteria.
In the final appointment the canals are cleaned again and dried, and a filling is placed in the root. We recommend a crown after the root canal is completed to ensure adequate strength and protection for the tooth that has just been saved.
The video below from Colgate explains the basics of the root canal procedure.
If you think you need root canal treatment on any of your teeth, come in and see one of our team and we’ll be able to examine your tooth and let you know if indeed you tooth needs a root canal treatment.