Root Canal Treatment

• It can save an infected tooth from extraction.
• It removes a source of infection that could spread to other areas.
• It prevents further problems that could be caused by losing a tooth.
• It can relieve a toothache.
• It is less expensive than replacing a lost tooth.

Root canal therapy usually requires several appointments. The number will depend on which type of tooth is being treated. Between appointments, the tooth will be covered and temporarily restored.

• An X-ray will be taken to check the root canals and see if there are any other signs of infection in the surrounding bone.
• A rubber sheet is placed around the tooth to keep it dry. The infected pulp is removed under a local anaesthetic (if necessary), and root canals are flushed with an anti-bacterial solution.
• The canals are shaped with tiny instruments and washed again to remove any debris.
• The freshly cleaned root canals are then filled with a rubber compound to seal the tooth and prevent bacteria from entering.
• If the tooth being treated is one of your front teeth, we can bleach the tooth using internal whitening.
• Front teeth normally only require fillings; however, if very broken down, a crown is necessary. Back teeth usually need an onlay or a crown. Only in rare circumstances is a filling needed.

Although root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful, the procedure should be no more uncomfortable than having a normal filling.