Root Canals

Root canal treatment is the best treatment choice if you suffer from oral discomfort or inflammation caused by an inflamed or dying nerve. During the root canal procedure, your endodontist reaches deep into the infected tooth with the assistance of specialized instruments and techniques, extracts inflamed nerves and debris, and closes the canal after adding a filling called gutta-percha. This will help stop the pain and infection.

Symptoms of root canal infection

There are risks that you might suffer from an infection in the root canal if you have either of the following symptoms: 

• Throbbing toothache
• Extreme tooth pain when chewing or biting
• Extremely damaged tooth
• Too much sensitivity to heat and cold
• Persistent bad breath
• Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck
• Facial swelling
• Fever

You will probably have an abscessed tooth if you witness any of these effects. If left untreated, the infection will spread to the jaw and across the face, leading to a systemic infection that can be even life-threatening. An untreated abscess of the tooth can also lead to tooth loss, requiring specialized restorative services to restore the smile.

What causes the need for a root canal?

The need for root canal therapy can be triggered by many causes. They are: 

• Large carries and  repeated decay close to the nerve
• Harm to nerves caused by a sinus infection or physical trauma 
• Restorations that cause nerve sensitivity.

Root canal therapy - Procedure:

• During the appointment session, the first step of root canal treatment is to take an X-ray to decide if a root canal is required.
• Using local anesthesia, the affected tooth and the surrounding area is numbed. 
• The decay is extracted using special endodontic instruments like the Endo Microscope, and a small access hole is created in the tooth to enter the canals of each root. 
• The damaged pulp is removed, and the canal is cleaned of any debris and infection.
• To stop any leakage to the canal or persistent infection, the canal will then be sealed using a special filling material called gutta-percha. 
• As the last stage, before the permanent crown is ready, a temporary filling will be placed over the tooth.

While conventional knowledge holds that a root canal is painful, the procedure is no more uncomfortable treatment than a filling. .However, if you are worried about the procedure, during your treatment appointment, we will be happy to explore sedation dentistry options