Root Canal Treatment
It wasn’t too long ago that an aching, infected, or deeply decayed tooth required extraction. These days with the modern techniques and equipment on offer at our Spearwood dental surgery, teeth can often be saved by a procedure called root canal treatment.
Most people prefer to keep their natural teeth because they generally function better than artificial ones. This dental procedure also protects you from future infections.
Root canals, also known as endodontic therapy, are a dental procedure for removing infected pulp from inside a tooth. This pulp nourishes the tooth, and its nerves sense different temperatures as pain to protect it. The infected pulp is replaced with a filling during a root canal procedure.
Diagnosing infected tooth decay
During your regular dental checkup, your dentist will x-ray your teeth to check for any damage or disease in your mouth. This is crucial because tooth pulp can become infected without any symptoms presenting.
The x-ray also helps your dental specialist plan for the treatment and reveal how complicated the procedure may be.
If you are experiencing symptoms, your dentist will discuss them with you and examine your teeth.
These may include:
- Discomfort around your tooth and gums.
- Sensitive teeth when consuming hot or cold food and beverages.
- Pain when biting or chewing.
- Inflammation of the gums or swelling around the face.
Various factors can cause pulp damage or disease. These can include untreated dental decay, injury or trauma to a tooth, bruxism (tooth grinding and advanced gum disease.
If you are experiencing these symptoms or suspect you may need, you may need a root canal procedure, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
root canal treatment
Get In Touch Today!
Dental crown procedure
- Cleaning the tooth and removing the infected nerve
The tooth will be fully anaesthetised (numbed) during the root canal treatment, but if you are nervous, the procedure can be done with nitrous oxide or IV sedation. The
initial step then involves getting rid of active decay and infection by removing everything inside the root canal. - Shaping the canals
The nerve chamber must be re-shaped for effective treatment so residual bacteria can’t reinfect the tooth. This step may have to be repeated in some circumstances. - Filling and sealing the tooth
The tooth is then filled with a rubber-like material to seal the canals completely and prevent bacteria from re-entering. This is a permanent solution that creates a long-lasting barrier. Some teeth that have lost significant structure due to decay can require further protection in a gold crown, porcelain crown or metal crown. - Post-treatment
After this root canal therapy, you will no longer feel any pain as the nerve tissue will have been removed and the infection eliminated. Your mouth may still be numb after the procedure until the anaesthetic wears off completely. Chewing hard or sticky foods for 24 hours after the procedure is not recommended as it may damage your newly restored tooth.
Root canal treatment frequently asked questions
Taking care of your teeth and having a good oral hygiene routine is best to prevent tooth decay. You should also protect your teeth by wearing a mouthguard when necessary, such as while playing contact sports or grinding your sleep at night. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, regular visits to the dentist for checkups and cleaning are still required.
Although root canal treatments are generally thought to be very painful, they are actually a pain-relieving dental procedure. A root canal treatment carried out by a professional dental surgeon should cause you relatively little discomfort. After the procedure, some mild soreness is normal and can be treated easily with over-the-counter pain medication if necessary.
Successful dental crowns work in the same way that your natural tooth does. They can withstand normal eating habits, and you will be able to continue your usual oral health routine. Provided that you maintain healthy habits, statistics and research indicates your dental crown on average can last 10 years. However, if maintained and looked after properly, dental crown can last significantly longer than this.
Root canal treatment in Perth
At Phoneix Road Dental Surgery, we understand that root canal treatments can cause fear and anxiety at the best of times. Our dedication to friendly personal care will put you at ease, and we’ll always go the extra mile for your comfort. Get in touch with us to book a consultation and discuss how to relieve your discomfort.