Root Canal Treatment
What is Root Canal Therapy?
Pulp is the tissue found inside each tooth which supplies the tooth with nerves, oxygen and nutrients. The place in which the pulp is located is called the root canal.
If the pulp becomes infected or damaged, then root canal treatment will be required to repair it.
A root canal treatment is done to repair or save a tooth that has been infected with dead or damaged pulp and prevents the infection from spreading further.
When is Root Canal Treatment needed?
Dead nerves can be caused by tooth decay, cracked teeth and dental trauma and can create excruciating pain. Root canal treatment is required to treat and remove the dead pulp.
Some people experience severe sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages and resort to root canal therapy to solve this issue.
When an abscess forms at the root of a tooth, the tooth could become infected and may require root canal therapy.
Deterioration of the underlying bone tissue may require root canal therapy.
What are the signs and symptoms associated with the need of Root Canal Treatment?
- Dull throbbing toothache.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Bad breathe.
- Tenderness when touching mouth or chewing.
- Extreme pain.
- Tooth becoming loose.
- Swelling of the gums and face.
- Pus oozing out of affected tooth
Root Canal Therapy Procedure
Steps involved in a root canal procedure:
- An incision is made from the top of the tooth to the pulp chamber.
- All dead pulp, old fillings, tooth decay, pus, infected tissues and debris are cleaned out and removed.
- The canals within the tooth root are then shaped into smooth hollow tunnels using small instruments, disinfectant and medication.
- After shaping and cleaning, the root canals are then filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha.
- The gutta-percha is mounted with an adhesive cement to seal up the root canals completely and acts as a barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the canal and re-infecting it.
Are there complications after a root canal treatment?
There are very few and rare cases that could experience a few complications after a root canal treatment has taken place and could require further treatment.
These are some of the complications that may occur:
- The tooth becoming re-infected.
- In a complex tooth structure, root canals could be missed.
- Fractured Root or Crown
- Small pieces of dental instruments that are damaged could get stuck inside the canal during the procedure.
Contact us at Murwillumbah Dental for more information on our root canal treatment.
Root canal treatment FAQs
Yes, endodontic treatment or root canal treatment is a significant procedure that’s performed under local anaesthesia. The procedure can be done by a specialist who is known as an endodontist, who is focused on the root canal procedure. Underneath and in the middle of the tooth, there is pulp and nerves, and when there’s a cavity, the infection can affect the pulp and nerves. A root canal treatment is the process of cleaning out this part of the tooth and removing any of the dead tissue. This is a very critical treatment to help maintain your oral health after a dental infection.
