Root Canal Procedure – How It Can Save Your Dying Tooth?

Having a root canal procedure can help to save a dead or dying tooth. During the procedure your dentist will remove any dead or decaying tooth pulp so that the infected matter does not spread. In years gone by patients feared endodontic treatments like root canal therapy because it was very painful. At Our Dental Care we take a gentle approach to the procedure so you have nothing to worry about.

Why Is Root Canal Treatment Needed?

The inside of your tooth is filled with dental pulp, which feeds and nourishes a growing tooth with nutrients and nerves. Sometimes, if dental decay goes very deep or undetected for sometime, this dental pulp can become infected. If the infection spreads, it can affect the surrounding teeth, your gums and even the bone below the gum.

To safeguard the rest of your mouth, the infected material needs to be cleared out and the root canals need to be straightened out to prevent infection from recurring. The pup and nerve will have to be taken out and the root canal must be sealed up to stop it from reinfection. This may take more than one session to complete. Once it has been done the tooth must be sealed with a dental crown.

In the past, teeth with damaged or decayed pulp had to be removed but thanks to advances in modern dentistry we are able to make saving your natural teeth a priority with root canal treatment, in the majority of cases.

Why Is Endodontic Treatment Necessary?

treatment root canal procedure drummoyneEven if you do your best to brush and floss twice a day, there are circumstances that could warrant a root canal treatment.

Leaving your tooth infection alone means it is not likely to heal and more likely to deteriorate.

An untreated infected dental pulp could cause

  • Tooth loss
  • Infection of the bone below the tooth
  • An abscess at the tooth’s root

If the infection spreads it can also result in a fever and blood poisoning, leading to illness and swelling in your face and neck.

What Causes An Infection In The Dental Pulp?

Sometimes dental decay is obvious and may be signified by large cavities. At other times it is possible to have a small crack or fracture in your dental enamel, which allows bacteria to penetrate deep in the tooth. It is possible for root canal therapy to fail if ant cracks or fractures are not properly sealed up.

How Long Does The Root Canal Procedure Take?

Depending on the extent of the infection you may need to visit your dentist up to three times to have your canals cleaned out properly. It’s really important that they are cleaned out properly, otherwise any remaining bacteria will cause further infection, pain and discomfort. 

Is A Root Canal Procedure Uncomfortable?

Root canal therapy is performed under local anaesthetic to minimise pain and discomfort, however you may experience some discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off.

A root canal procedure can potentially save a tooth and should be undertaken sooner rather than later. If you have any questions it’s always best to speak to a professional. Please contact us for an appointment: (02) 9181 3668.

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