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Root
Canal Treatments |
 Inside
a tooth is a fine channel called the root canal.
This contains the dental pulp which consists of
nerves and blood vessels. If the dental pulp becomes
diseased or dies a toothache or an abscess may occur.
In the past these problem teeth were extracted,
but now your dentist can offer you root canal treatment.
Why does pulp become diseased?
There can be a number of reasons for pulp becoming
diseased:
- Decay
- Deep cavities
- Trauma
- Tooth fracture
- Extreme wear
- Crack or chip in a tooth
Sometimes there is no apparent cause.
Symptoms of root canal problems
Symptoms may include pain, sensitivity to hot or
cold, tooth discolouration, and swelling or soreness
in the gums surrounding the tooth.
Why have root canal treatment?
The aim of root canal treatment (also called "endodontic"
treatment) is to save a tooth that has been badly
damaged due to decay, disease or injury. Many millions
of teeth each year are saved from extraction by having
root canal treatment. Your own teeth are better than
artificial teeth because:
- they are more efficient for biting and chewing
- they are stronger
It is better to have a tooth in place because teeth
can move out of their normal position and tilt into
the space left by a missing tooth. This can make chewing
and biting difficult, and can lead to further decay
and gum disease around the tilted teeth.
What happens during root canal treatment?
To improve the chances of success, root canal treatment
should start as soon as possible after a problem is
identified.
A hole is drilled through the top of the tooth to
access the root canal. The canal is measured for length,
cleaned, and then shaped with fine dental files. It
is then washed with a sterilising solution and sealed
with a final filling.
This treatment can take several visits to complete.
If there is an infection present, antibiotics are
sometimes prescribed.
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| Tooth
with a dental abscess |
File
in place to clean and
shape root canal |
Root
canal treatment completed and
tooth crowned |
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