Get in touch

Getting to the Root of the Problem

Perhaps one of the most uncomfortable outcomes of tooth decay is when the root canal becomes infected.

If a cavity is left to grow without being treated, the soft pulp that makes up the centre of your tooth can become damaged. This pulp is a combination of blood vessels, tissue, and nerves and it serves to keep the tooth alive.

Endodontic root canal treatment is the best course of action for removing any affected tissue. This procedure will also prevent the onset of further infections.

While we’d much prefer to prevent the need for root canal treatment by catching cavities early, at Woodborough House Dental Practice, we have vast experience in delivering complicated endodontic procedures.

image
image

How Do You Know When You Have an Infected Root Canal?

If you have the following symptoms, there is a possibility that you may need a root canal procedure:

  • Pain while eating
  • Swollen gums
  • Pus
  • Facial swelling
  • A tooth that appears darker than the rest
  • Pain while consuming hot and cold food and drink

If you have any of these symptoms, don’t put off arranging a consultation. The earlier we can carry out endodontic treatment, the better the prognosis.

image

How We Carry Out Endodontic Root Canal Treatment

To understand how a root canal treatment will be carried out, you’ll need to know a bit about how teeth are made up. The tooth has two parts. The crown of the tooth sits above the gum, while the root lies below, anchoring it to the jaw.

Every tooth has a root canal system, and some have up to four. When the pulp inside the root canal dies, treatment becomes essential and urgent.

Before we carry out your endodontic treatment, we’ll take some x-rays. This will give us a clear view of the affected tooth, and we’ll use this as a guide throughout the procedure to ensure we get everything out.

The procedure will be carried out under local anaesthetic. We’ll begin by creating a small hole in the infected tooth to let us get to the pulp. A rotary instrument and file will be used to evacuate all infected material.

Your endodontist will ensure all inflamed tissue has been fully cleared before using a gutta-percha to plug the tooth. A filling will then be used to fill the tooth. At a later date, we may get you to come back to the clinic so that we can place a crown onto the tooth.

Book Your Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is not something you should put off getting. Call us today and we’ll get you in to carry out the procedure at the earliest convenient opportunity.

Get in touch