Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Treatment, also known as Endodontic Therapy, is a way of treating teeth that are damaged by trauma, fracture, decay, or leaking fillings; bacteria in the mouth can work their way into the middle of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels that supply the tooth (the pulp) are found.

The bacteria destroy the nerve and blood supply, and an abscess forms. Root Canal Treatment is a procedure to clean out and remove the infected parts of the tooth, so avoiding having the whole tooth removed.

Why would I need Root Canal Treatment?

An abscess will cause considerable pain and swelling in the bone and gum at the side of the tooth; sometimes the pain goes away as the nerve is destroyed, but the swelling will stay as a sign of infection. You may need Root Canal Treatment if you are experiencing any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Severe, constant, throbbing toothache
• Tooth becomes looser, and feels painful when pressing down or biting
• Excessive sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink
• Swollen gum around a tooth that may also be discharging pus
• Facial swelling – you may also have a temperature
• Darkening of the tooth colour

It is better to treat an infection as soon as possible to prevent excessive loss of bone, so if you notice any of these problems please contact Cirencester Dental and Aesthetics now on 01285 653251 to schedule a consultation with one of our friendly dentist.

What can I expect from the treatment process?

Many patients expect Root Canal Treatment to be the epitome of pain and discomfort; the reality is that modern Endodontic techniques allow us to remove the infected pulp from your tooth without causing any pain or undue discomfort. Typical treatment requires one or two appointments to complete, but the number of necessary visits will vary depending on each individual tooth.

At the beginning of each appointment, your dentist will carefully numb the area around the tooth with local anaesthetic. Once you are comfortable, we access the infected pulp in the middle of the tooth by drilling a small hole into the top of the tooth, then we use specialist fine instruments called files to carefully measure, clean, and shape the root canals. The infected material is rinsed out of the tooth with disinfectant solutions; leaving a clean canal system that is ready to be sealed with filling material to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the tooth.

If the root canals are particularly narrow or curved, or there is still infection present, then we will need a second treatment visit. An antibacterial dressing will be placed into the canal to treat the infection, and a temporary filling is applied to protect the access to the tooth. At the second visit, we repeat the same process and check that all the infection has cleared and the canals are shaped adequately for the root filling.

When the root canal treatment is completed, your dentist will restore the tooth with a new permanent filling on top; preventing bacteria from re-entering the tooth. If the remaining tooth structure has been weakened, then a crown is recommended to protect the whole tooth.

It is important to take extra care when looking after a tooth that has been root-filled; because there is no nerve, you will not feel pain from decay. You can preserve the health of treated teeth by maintaining excellent oral hygiene, having routine dental examinations, and limiting the amount of sugary or acidic food and drink you consume.

Although the thought of having a root canal makes people nervous, it is actually a routine dental procedure that can avoid having to remove your tooth.

For more information regarding this treatment