Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy has a considerable amount of anxiety and fear associated with it. However, it is an ideal option to treat an infected or abscessed tooth and avoid  extraction/removal. When a tooth requires a root canal it is most likely the pulp, which is the blood and nerve supply to the tooth that has been damaged from a deep cavity, or a fracture that has exposed the pulp, or a severe knock or trauma has occurred. These situations will cause the tooth to have irreversible inflammation or cause the pulp to die. This sometimes results in severe pain or swelling, or a small pimple may erupt along the gum.

A root canal is initiated by making a small hole in the tooth to allow access to the internal pulp/nerve. This process is painless as freezing is used to anaesthetize the area in addition to our more advance pain management options. Once the pulp is cleaned out, the canals are shaped, disinfected and then filled to ensure no further infection can occur. The more roots a tooth has, the more canals that are present. After the root canal therapy is completed, a filling is placed to seal the access hole and a crown will be advised. This is due to the fact that when the pulp is removed from a tooth it becomes more brittle and prone to fracture. The crown will protect the tooth from future fracture.

There are some instances when root canal therapy is indicated but an extraction or removal is recommended because the tooth may be beyond repair or has extensive bone loss. It may be more predictable with long term stability to remove the tooth and place an implant.

Your dental team will aid in navigating treatment options to ensure you  have all the information to make a good decision for your tooth and your health.

See the videos for more information and call us for a consultation. Let us be your partners in oral health.