Root canals, also known as endodontic treatment, are often popular choices when required to treat tooth decay due to infection as it preserves your existing tooth. The alternative treatment to a root canal treatment is often tooth extraction and replacement of the tooth with a dental implant, bridge or partial denture.
During our root canal treatment, the dentist ensures that no pain is felt by using modern local anesthesia to freeze the area and reduce all sensations. This allows the dentist to clean the inside of the tooth, remove the bacteria causing the infection, and seal it off with a special filling used only in root canal treatments called "Gutta Percha" which is derived from a tree and is the best known material to seal the canals off.
Once the infection has been cleaned and sealed with the special filling, the gums will now begin the healing process from the body's immune system. The last step to the root canal treatment is the restoration of the tooth with a composite resin filling to restore its strength. We often recommend a crown to enhance the strength as well as improved structural integrity of the tooth.
Tooth pain is often a warning sign that decay, injury, or disease are going on inside the tooth. In certain cases, the decay inside the tooth extends deep within it to the center part known as the dental pulp. This can also show up as a swelling, bump or abscess on the gums. When a cavity reaches this inner chamber, the best option to save the tooth is a root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment.
After completion of the root canal treatment, a crown is often recommended to reduce the risk of fracture of the tooth or root. This improves the long-term health and stability of the tooth and allows it to look and function like a healthy tooth in the mouth.
If you suspect a root canal may be required or have questions about ongoing tooth pain in your mouth, give our dental clinic a call and book an appointment for a root canal consultation. During your consultation, your dentist will go over the various options for a root canal treatment to improve your oral health.
