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About Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatments are necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can be caused by a variety of reasons, including deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a cracked/chipped 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.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, involves the dentist or endodontist (root canal specialist dentist) opening up the tooth at the crown, removing the infected pulp, cleaning and shaping the canals and filling the canal system. This filing is a rubber-like material known as gutta percha, which creates a seal in the canal to avoid re-infection. The crown of the tooth is then filled using tooth-coloured filling material.

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Root Canal Treatment FAQs

Below, we have answered some of your frequently asked questions about root canal treatment.

Depending on the complexity of the case, your root canal treatment may be conducted in a single visit or over multiple visits. We will be able to discuss this with you at your first visit. However, more than 2 visits will rarely be necessary.

After your root filling is complete, your crown will be filled. In some cases, this filling will be sufficient. In many cases, however, a restorative crown may be required. You will be advised which option is suitable for you.

Root canal treatment is usually very successful. However, very occasionally a tooth may not settle down after a root filling and infection may persist. In such a case it is necessary to remove this area of infection by surgery (apicectomy). This rarely happens and the tooth can generally be saved. In other situations, a root canal treated tooth which does not settle may have to be re-root canal treated or extracted.

Signs that you may need root canal treatment include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.

Many root canal treatments are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anaesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.
For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications prescribed by your dentist.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days you should contact your dentist.

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