Root Canal Treatment
What is Root Canal Treatment
There are several reasons why your tooth may become irritated and inflamed; deep decay, big fillings, trauma to the tooth, a chipped tooth or even repeated dental work can all take tolls on your dental health. The nerves inside the tooth pulp can die, the tooth dentin and enamel may no longer receive nutrients and moisture. The inflamed tissue surrounding the tooth causes an acute toothache and infection which can damage the bones around the teeth.
Root Canal Therapy is performed to treat problems related to the soft inner pulp of a tooth. If a dental pulp infection is untreated, the toxins from the bacteria inside the tooth can destroy the bone around the tooth and cause a dental abscess. The tooth then continues to be weakened by the bacteria and eventually may deteriorate completely. In this case, the whole tooth must be removed. Therefore, root canal therapy preserves the tooth and protects the jawbone and ensures your ongoing dental health. The quicker the treatment occurs, the more likely the success of the root canal therapy, so early intervention is important. Reach out to our team of dental practitioners at Shire Doctors and Dentists.
What Are The Symptoms?
Classic symptoms and signs of pulp inflammation or infection can be a dull or throbbing toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold drink which lingers for a long time, tenderness when chewing or when touched, discolouration, or even a bad taste or bad smell in your mouth.
What Does The Treatment Involve?
The entire procedure takes place during 2-4 visits where we ensure the root canal is thoroughly cleaned to ensure no debris is remaining. Your Shire Doctors and Dentists practitioner will then seal off the area, preventing any bacteria from entering the cavity.
In the first visit, the affected tooth and pulp debris are cleaned thoroughly from inside the roots. This is done with the help of x-ray images, which help the dentist assess the length of each of the roots before they start and during treatment. The root canals are flushed with antibacterial solutions to remove any floating debris and bacteria. Once the dentist is satisfied that the roots are clean from debris, they dress the roots with an antibacterial dressing and place a temporary filling on top. This protects the tooth from being re infected during this time.
In the 4th visit, the tooth is re opened and flushed with antibacterial solutions. The roots are then filled with some cold or warm rubber points, bonded to the walls of the root canal with sealant. Shortly after the root canal treatment, this protects the tooth from fractures which may allow bacteria to re enter and re infect the tooth. After your Root Canal Treatment is complete, your dentist will prepare the tooth for the final restoration. In some cases, we will recommend a dental crown that will allow the fully restored function of the tooth.
Your dentist at Shire Doctors and Dentists may recommend a referral to a Specialist Endodontist. This may happen before or after the dentist starts the root canal treatment on your tooth. As the dentist relies on the two-dimensional x-ray images to view the inside of a 3D root canal, general dentists are often limited when it comes to extremely curved, extremely long or blocked canals.
Book In Your Treatment With Shire Doctors and Dentists!
Root canal treatment is a micro-surgery on your tooth and it carries several potential risks. Your dentist will explain this to you before they start your treatment, but you must be aware that a Specialist Endodontist may be required to complete any root canal treatment if it proves complex.
We know that the thought of a Root Canal Treatment can be scary, so please call our friendly team on (02) 9063 86 50 to talk your individual treatment or to book a consultation at our practice.