No of appointments
1-3
Duration
45 mins – 2 hours
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Believe it or not, all teeth have a nerve and blood supply which enables us to pick up pain, pressure, temperature. The nerve is in located in the centre of the tooth and lives in channels in the root called canals.
Due to tooth decay, injury to the tooth or gum disease, the nerve supply to the tooth can become infected, which results in tooth ache. This is the tooth’s way of telling us that something is wrong, but can also make it difficult for you to go about your daily routine and may even stop you from eating or drinking as you’d like.
To resolve this problem, the root canal system needs to be cleaned out and disinfected to remove the bacteria and dead nerve that is present. This is known as root canal treatment or endodontic treatment.
How is root canal treatment carried out?
After ensuring the tooth is completely numb and that you cannot feel anything, a rubber sheet is placed on the tooth to separate it from the rest of the mouth. The centre of the tooth is then accessed, and thin instruments are used to clean out the nerve and bacteria. The tooth is cleaned out with a disinfectant solution to further ensure it is sterile and clean.
Once the channels in the tooth have been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, the root is filled with rubber percha to stop any bugs getting back down the root. The success rates of root canal fillings can be high.
Alternatives to having a root canal treatment would be to extract and replace the tooth with a denture, a bridge or an implant. Or simply leaving the space.
If you are anxious, please let us know. We are highly experienced and give you the time you require to help relax you and make you feel comfortable during the treatment.
