Root Canal Treatment

Although the thought of getting a root canal makes people nervous, it is actually a routine dental procedure that can save your natural tooth and eliminate the need for expensive restorations such as dental bridges or implants.

Endodontics, as root canal therapy is called, is a recommended treatment for severely infected tooth pulp. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call us at Horfield Dental Care, as you may need a root canal:

• Excessive sensitivity to hot food and beverages
• Spontaneous, severe, throbbing toothache
• Pain when biting down or chewing
• Swollen gum tissue
• Facial swelling

If any of your teeth are broken, decayed, or you have a loose filling, bacteria can infiltrate the pulp, causing it to become infected. To ensure the efficacy of any future dental treatment, infected tooth pulp must be treated as soon as you can schedule an appointment.

Root Canal Treatment

Although many patients expect endodontic treatment to be the epitome of pain and discomfort, the reality is that modern dental technologies allow us to remove your tooth’s infected pulp without causing you pain or even undue discomfort. The typical root canal treatment requires two appointments to complete, but the number of necessary visits will vary depending on your teeth.

When the procedure begins, we clean the affected tooth using an antibacterial solution. Once the treatment area has been completely numbed using a local anaesthetic, your dentist will remove the top portion of your tooth and clean out the infected pulp.

If more than one treatment is required, medication will be placed in the empty canal to deter further infection before a temporary filling is applied to protect the tooth. When you return, your dentist will put in a permanent filling and seal the tooth to deter re-infection. We may also recommend a crown to prevent additional weakening of the tooth structure.

Once your root canal therapy is completed, you can preserve the health of the treatment area by maintaining good oral hygiene, having routine dental examinations, and limiting your intake of sugary food and drinks. Potential problems can always be averted before they arise if you take care of your teeth and additional root canal procedures can be avoided.