Root Canal Treatment

When would you need this?

A tooth is composed of three layers. Enamel is on the outside and serves as a hard protective shell. The softer and sensitive middle layer is referred to as dentine and beneath this is an even softer tissue layer referred to as the dental pulp. Dental pulp contains, nerve tissue, lymphatic tissue and blood vessels. If this is sufficiently traumatized from deep decay, a fracture in the tooth or trauma, the tooth begins to die and root canal therapy is often required in order to eliminate infection and prevent tooth loss. A root canal specialist known as an Endodontist or a general dentist completes this procedure.

Signs and Symptoms

• Minimal to severe pain
• Tooth discolouration
• Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue
• Signs of infection visible on x-ray

Treatment Process

• After the tooth is anaesthetized, the dentist will remove the dental pulp from the crown and the roots of the affected tooth.
• Once the affected tooth’s canals are sufficiently cleansed and shaped, they are filled with materials designed to prevent pain and infection from recurring.
• The dentist will then place a temporary filling. Once the tooth is deemed to be healing properly a permanent restoration such as a crown is placed.
• Depending on the case this may take anywhere between 2-4 dental visits  to complete.