If you have experienced a bad injury to your tooth or if it has developed any cavities, it can open a pathway for bacteria to get inside. This can cause the tooth pulp to become infected, resulting in severe toothache and even removal of the tooth.
A root canal treatment can save your tooth from the unpleasant consequences caused by the bacteria residing inside your tooth. Root canal treatment (or endodontics) is required when there is an infection deep within your tooth. The blood or nerve supply may be infected either due to an injury or a severe cavity. You may not experience any pain or discomfort during the early stages of an infection, however, if your tooth changes colour and darkens that is a sign that your tooth nerve is in danger of dying. If left untreated, this kind of infection can not only be very painful but can lead to a tooth abscess or even tooth loss.
Root canal treatment removes all of the infection from the tooth, before sealing the tooth to protect the damaged nerve and restore you to good oral health. Endodontic treatment is always carried out by a professional clinician and an anaesthetic is used to keep you comfortable through the process.
When you first attend for your appointment, we will take an X-ray to assess the status of the infection. Then local anaesthesia is administered to the area and a piece of rubber material called a ‘rubber dam’ is placed around the tooth the keep it dry and accessible throughout the procedure. Once you are fully anaesthetised, your dentist will use specially designed tools to remove the infected tissue. Once it is clear, a rubber compound is used to fill the tooth where the root canal tissue previously was. This is usually finished with a temporary filling. This is the completed stage. Following this, we create a custom-made crown to fit your tooth and this is fitted on your second visit.
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