Root Canal Treatment

Within the root of your tooth, situated beneath the gum line, there is a canal filled with pulp which provides your tooth with nourishment and contains a lot of nerve endings. Endodontic treatment (root canal treatment) involves the cleaning, shaping and filling of the root canal system. Root canal treatments are necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can be caused by a variety of reasons; deep decay, repeated trauma to the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. An injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess. Dr Raphael Bellamy, our Endodontist at Northumberland Dental Care, has answered some of your frequently asked endodontic questions.   Endodontic Treatment FAQs   What is root canal treatment? Endodontic or root canal treatment involves the dentist or endodontist ope

Dr Raphael Bellamy, our specialist endodontist, separates fact from fiction with answers to your most common queries about root canal treatment Q: What is root canal treatment? A: Root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a procedure to treat infection at the centre of a tooth. It involves cleaning, shaping and filling a tooth’s underlying root canal system in order to preserve the tooth. Q: When is root canal treatment necessary? A: In cases of advanced tooth decay, bacteria can penetrate through the surface of the tooth and enter the soft tissue at the centre, called the pulp. If this happens, the bacteria will start to kill the pulp, which increases the risk of infection developing inside the root canal. Endodontic treatment is necessary to prevent the spread of infection and preserve the tooth. Q: What causes infection at the centre of the tooth? A: Inflammation or infection in the tooth’s pulp can occur for a variety of reasons, including deep decay, repeated dent