A root canal treatment is prescribed when an injury or cavity damages the root of a tooth and causes an infection.
The pulp tissue inside your teeth provides nerves and nutrients to each tooth. When this is damaged by infection, a root canal saves the rest of the tooth by removing the dead or diseased pulp. It’s very important to have this procedure as soon as possible to avoid developing an abscess, damaging the underlying bone tissue, or letting the infection spread to other teeth.
While the idea of a root canal treatment may sound intimidating, the modern technique is comfortable and should feel no different from getting a filling. Read on to find out more about how a root canal procedure works.
Step 1 – Anaesthesia
At Ipswich Family Dental, your dentist will begin by numbing the tooth and the surrounding tissues. Treatment will not begin until all affected areas have been numbed to avoid causing you any pain.
Step 2 – Access
A small opening will be made in the tooth to access the pulp chamber and root canals. This will be drilled through the crown for a back tooth, or from behind a front tooth.
Step 3 – Removal of Affected Tissue
Specially-designed instruments will be used to take out the injured or dead pulp. Once this is completed, the canals will be medicated, irrigated and shaped to make space for the root canal filling.
Step 4 – Canal Filling
Your newly cleaned canals will now be filled with a permanent material that is heated to make it malleable. It is then compressed into the space in the root to make sure it fits perfectly. A sealant will be added over the top to make sure the canals cannot become infected or contaminated again.
Step 5 – Temporary Cover
A temporary or permanent filling material will be placed on top of the canal filling, depending on what your dentist recommends. This will fill the access hole that was made to treat the canals at the beginning of the procedure. If the tooth has been heavily damaged, it might need extra support from a plastic or metal post installed in the canal with the filling.
Step 6 – Permanent Protection
As a final step, your dentist will fit a crown or filling to permanently seal your tooth. This will be done in a separate procedure once the root canal has healed.
So there you have it – not so scary after all! Modern root canals are a simple procedure with minimal discomfort, and you will end up with a strong and protective dental crown to avoid an infection reoccurring.
If you’d like to arrange a dental appointment then call Ipswich Family Dental now on 07 3201 6767 (Brassall) or 07 3281 1781 (Ipswich) or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.
