Root canal treatment

Root canal treatment may be required to relieve pain when the nerve of a tooth becomes exposed, inflamed or infected.

What is root canal treatment?

Exposed or inflamed nerves in the centre of your teeth can cause sensitivity and sometimes acute toothache or pain.

Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure to remove the sensitive nerves and dental pulp from the tooth and root when they become infected. It is an effective and potentially long-lasting solution to treat the infection, save your tooth and relieve discomfort.

X-rays and dental imagery will often be used to identify the extent of the infection.

In a Root Canal Treatment, your dentist will first numb the area around the tooth to be treated. Damaged and decayed parts of the tooth will then be removed. The inner canals of the tooth are then thoroughly cleaned to remove all the infected tissue.

The root canals are disinfected before being sealed. A filling or dental crown will then be used to restore and strengthen the tooth.

Do I need root canal treatment?

An infection of the nerve may be caused as a result of deep tooth decay, cracked or chipped teeth, failing crowns, dislodged fillings or previous dental procedures. Particularly for back teeth, signs that may suggest an infection of a nerve may include:

• Acute sensitivity
• Toothache or tooth pain
• Pain when biting
• Swelling
• Tooth Discolouration

If an inflamed or infected root nerve goes untreated, it can cause significant discomfort. This may potentially lead to a dental abscess or a spread of the infection to the jaw and mouth.

Your dentist will advise you if a root canal procedure is right for you during your initial consultation.