If the inside of a tooth becomes infected or badly inflamed, it doesn’t necessarily mean losing the tooth.
Root canal treatment is designed to remove the infection from inside the tooth and, where possible, preserve your natural tooth rather than extracting it.
At Broad Street Dental Practice, we’ll assess the tooth carefully first and explain whether root canal treatment gives it a good chance of being successfully retained.
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Inside every tooth is a soft centre containing nerves and blood vessels, known as the dental pulp.
If bacteria reach this area through deep decay, a crack, damage or an existing restoration, the pulp can become inflamed or infected.
Sometimes this causes significant toothache or sensitivity. At other times, symptoms can settle even though the infection is still present. You might also notice swelling, tenderness when biting or a change in the colour of the tooth.
The important thing is finding out what’s actually happening before deciding what to do next.
Root canal treatment removes the infected or damaged tissue from within the tooth.
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before the root canals are carefully cleaned, disinfected and sealed to prevent bacteria from getting back inside.
Once this has been completed, the tooth will need to be restored. Depending on how much healthy tooth remains, this may involve a filling or a crown to protect it and allow you to use it normally again.
For many people, the words “root canal” still sound considerably worse than the treatment itself.
Modern root canal treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the tooth is numb while we work. In fact, if you’ve arrived with pain caused by an infected tooth, the purpose of treatment is to deal with its source.
We’ll explain what’s happening throughout and make sure you’re comfortable before we begin.
If anxiety rather than the tooth itself is what’s making treatment difficult for you, please tell us. We can take that into account when planning your care.
There is real value in retaining a natural tooth when it has a good enough long-term outlook.
That’s why extraction isn’t automatically the first answer when a tooth is infected. We’ll look at how much healthy tooth remains, the extent of the infection and whether the tooth can be predictably restored before recommending the best way forward.
Sometimes root canal treatment can give a compromised tooth many more useful years.
There are situations where root canal treatment isn’t possible or where the remaining tooth simply doesn’t have a good enough outlook to justify further treatment.
If that’s the case, we’ll be straightforward with you about it.
Extraction doesn’t mean the conversation stops there. Depending on the tooth, your mouth and what you want from treatment, options for replacing it can include a dental bridge, denture or dental implant.
For a badly broken or failing tooth, it may sometimes even be possible to remove the tooth and place an implant at the same appointment, rather than leaving a gap and returning for implant placement later. Suitability for an immediate implant needs to be assessed individually.
Your tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment begins. You may experience some tenderness afterwards as the area settles, but we’ll explain what to expect and how to manage it.
Not every root-treated tooth needs the same restoration. Teeth that have lost a significant amount of their structure may benefit from a crown to protect them. We’ll advise you based on the condition and position of your tooth.
Occasionally, a previously root-treated tooth can develop another problem or infection. That doesn’t automatically mean the tooth has to be removed. Re-root canal treatment may sometimes be possible, depending on the tooth and the reason the original treatment has failed.
We’ll explain why and talk you through the alternatives rather than simply leaving you with an extraction. If the tooth needs to be removed, we can consider the appropriate replacement options with you, including dental implants where suitable.
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Claire
Ann CQ
Dilara E.
Corn P.
Adam P.
John B.
Tracie P.
Les R.
Charlie E.
Simon G.
Erika K.
Alex M.
Laura S.
Irine J.
Indre S.
Claire
Ann CQ
Dilara E.
Corn P.
Adam P.
John B.
Tracie P.
Les R.
Charlie E.
Simon G.
Erika K.
Alex M.
Laura S.
Irine J.
Indre S.
Claire
Ann CQ
Dilara E.
Corn P.
Adam P.
John B.
Tracie P.
Les R.
Charlie E.
Simon G.
Erika K.
Alex M.
Laura S.
Irine J.
Indre S.
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