Root Canals
Root Canals
Root canal treatment is used to treat infection or significant inflammation inside a tooth. Its purpose is to remove the affected pulp tissue, clean and seal the internal root canal system, and where possible keep the natural tooth in place.
The pulp inside a tooth can become inflamed or infected after deep decay, cracks, trauma, repeated dental work or other damage. Symptoms can include lingering sensitivity, pain when biting, spontaneous toothache, swelling or a change in the colour of a tooth. Sometimes there are few obvious symptoms.
After assessment and appropriate imaging, the tooth is numbed and isolated. The infected or inflamed tissue is removed, the canals are carefully cleaned and shaped, and medication may be used between appointments when needed. The canals are then sealed to reduce the chance of reinfection.
A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment often needs a strong final restoration. Depending on how much tooth structure remains and where the tooth sits in your bite, this may be a filling, onlay or crown. Your dentist will explain the recommendation for your tooth.
Local anaesthetic is used to make treatment as comfortable as possible. The tooth and surrounding tissues can feel tender afterwards, particularly if there was infection beforehand.
Extraction may be an alternative in some situations. If a tooth is removed, options for replacing it can also be discussed. Suitability depends on the individual tooth and your overall dental health.
Talk to Hillier Road Dental & Implant Centre
Persistent toothache, swelling or pain when biting deserves an assessment. Contact our team so we can investigate the cause.