Root Canal Treatment
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 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 left untreated, the toxins from the bacteria inside the tooth can destroy the bone around the tooth and cause a dental abscess. The tooth continues to be weakened by the bacteria and eventually may break down completely. In this case, the whole tooth must be removed. Therefore, root canal therapy is necessary to preserve the tooth and protect the jawbone and ensure your ongoing dental health. The quicker the treatment occurs, the more likely the success of the root canal therapy, so early intervention is important.
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, even bad taste or bad smell in your mouth.
What Does The Treatment Involve?
The entire procedure takes place over 2-4 visits where we ensure the root canal is thoroughly cleaned to ensure no debris is left behind. Your Blue Tooth Dentist 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 also 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 over the top. This protects the tooth from being re-infected.
In the last 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 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 Blue Tooth Dental 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 three-dimensional root canal, general dentists are often limited when it comes to extremely curved, extremely long or blocked canals.
Book In Your Treatment Today!
Root canal treatment is a micro-surgery on your tooth and it carries several risks. Your dentist will explain this to you before they start your treatment, but you may need to 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 9519 2691 to discuss your individual requirements or to book a consultation at our Enmore practice.