Endodontics
Root Canal Therapy

The most common reason for needing Endodontic treatment is infection. In most cases the dental pulp, (soft tissue inside the canal or channel that runs through the root of your tooth), has been damaged due to deep decay allowing bacteria to reach it. Unfortunately, once this happens a simple filling will no longer “fix” the tooth. Once the pulp has become inflamed or infected you may experience some symptoms such as:

• Continuous pain
• Extreme and/or prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold
• Pain or discomfort when chewing
• Discolourationof the tooth
• Facial swelling

Sometimes you may have no symptoms at all, which is why regular dental check ups are so important.

What is Endodontic treatment and how can it save your tooth?
Your dentist will remove the decay and access the infected dental pulp. During the root canal treatment, the infected pulp is removed and the canals are cleaned, disinfected and shaped. Special dressings and temporary fillings are placed inside your tooth between each visit to help settle the surrounding tissues and destroy bacteria. This process relieves the inflammation and pain that you may have experienced; it is important to note that during this procedure little or no pain is generally experienced as the tooth is usually anaesthetised (numb).

The next step is to fill the roots of the tooth, sealing them off to prevent re-infection.

Root canal therapy can take several appointments, and depending on the complexity of the individual tooth.

What happens AFTER treatment?
After your Root Canal has been completed, you will need to restore it with a more permanent solution – your dentist will discuss this with you further, however generally a crown is the preferred option over a filling in most cases.