Root Treatments
Root canal treatment aims to clean, shape and fill the root canal of a tooth. To meet your individual needs, your care may differ slightly from what is described here. However our treatment co-ordinator always discusses your upcoming treatment with you.
About Root Canal Treatment
Your teeth have a core of blood vessels and nerves at their centre; this is known as the pulp. The number of root canals a tooth has varies. Generally your back teeth has 2-3 canals, where as your front teeth often have just one canal.
A root canal treatment is required when your tooth's pulp becomes damaged. The blood vessels die, this results in a tooth which is 'dead'. Teeth that are 'dead' are more likely to get infected because it's no longer protected by your immune system.
There are a number of ways that your tooth's pulp can be damaged. These include:
- Decay
- Injury/trauma
- Gum disease
Without treatment, a collection of pus can form at the tip of your root, this is known as an abscess. This can lead to pain and swelling. If a tooth is then left, the abscess will keep reoccurring and the chances of a root treatment being successful are lessened.
The aim of root canal treatment is to remove the damaged pulp and the bacteria that are causing the infection. It involves removing the inflamed or dead nerves from the centre of your tooth.
What are the alternatives?
We may not always be able to repair your tooth with root canal treatment. This may be because your tooth is very seriously damaged by decay or injury or if you have gum disease meaning that your tooth isn't well supported. Generally we may recommend that you have the tooth taken out instead.
Preparing for Root Canal Treatment
We will take an X-ray of your tooth to see whether you need root canal treatment. This can help to show us how far any decay has spread, if there is an abscess and how many root canals your tooth has.
If you have a dead tooth or one with severely a damaged pulp, root canal treatment may be the only way to repair it. However, it's important that we discuss what is involved in this treatment with you before going ahead with it.
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About the procedure
Firstly we will apply a gel to your gum. The gel numbs the gum so you will not be able to feel any injections as much. We will give you an injection of local anaesthetic. This completely blocks pain from the area and you will stay awake during the procedure.
We will separate the affected tooth from the rest of your mouth using a thin sheet of rubber called a dam. This will keep your tooth dry and protect your airways.
We will make a hole in the top of your tooth, and remove the damaged pulp through this hole. This is done by using a dental file. We will then clean the empty pulp cavity and fill the root canals. You will be unable to feel anything as the whole area will be numb.
A permanent seal is then placed over the tooth. This will either be done using a white filling or a crown. This will protect your filled root canal and your tooth.
What to expect afterwards
You may find overtime that the tooth that was treated may change colour slightly. If your tooth does change colour, there are various options available to you; for example whitening. We are always happy to discuss any further treatments with you.
Your root canal treatment will be assessed by us at regular intervals. This will be at your 6 monthly check-ups.
What are the risks?
Root canal treatment is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications.
Side effects
Side-effects are mostly temporary effects you may get after having been treated. Cleaning your teeth may cause slight tenderness, but this is only temporary.
Complications
Complications are when problems occur during or after the treatment. It's unlikely that you will have any further problems after root canal treatment. If your tooth does become infected again, the procedure can be repeated. However, repeated treatments are generally not as successful.
Very occasionally after root canal treatment, you will still have inflammation at the tip of your tooth. You may need to have a surgical procedure called an apicectomy to remove the root tip.
The exact risks are specific to you and differ for every person, so we haven't included statistics here.
