Root canal is a treatment that enables you to keep your own tooth, even if it has become infected. It is an intricate treatment, working with your beautiful, natural tooth to make it possible for you to keep your own tooth and avoid extraction. Adam has a special interest in this area of dentistry and takes great care and pride in helping you keep your own tooth.
Root canal treatment (RCT) is a procedure needed when an infection has reached the core of the tooth.
Every tooth has nerves that allow us to feel pain, pressure, and temperature. Decay, injury, or gum disease can cause the nerve in the tooth to die and the tooth can become infected, causing pain and sometimes swelling.
Once at this point, the only way to preserve a tooth is by root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment. The treatment feels no different to having a normal filling placed and patients who have a level of anxiety about the procedure often comment on how relaxed they felt by the end of the appointment.
Comfort is paramount, we make sure you are happy and numb before any treatment happens, using our wand single tooth anaesthesia, there are no ‘fat lips’ with this.
Your tooth is shielded from the rest of your mouth to give you more comfort and us better access. We use our microscope to locate the root canal system inside the tooth.
This is where we remove all the diseased tissue and clean out the tooth with medical grade disinfectants. We then place a medicinal dressing and a temporary filling, when required, or we move onto the next stage if we perform in one visit.
The clean canal is filled with a special type of rubber. This forms a barrier to reduce the risk of reinfection. A white filling core is built up so that the tooth is ready for further restoration such as a crown or onlay.
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure used to remove infected or damaged tissue from the inner chambers of the tooth (pulp), clean and disinfect the root canals, and seal the tooth to prevent reinfection.
Common signs that you may need root canal treatment include severe toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, swelling or tenderness in the gums, and a darkening or discolouration of the tooth.
While root canal treatment has a reputation for being painful, the procedure itself is typically not painful as it is performed under local anaesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. You may experience some discomfort or soreness after the procedure, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
The duration of root canal treatment depends on the complexity of your case and the number of root canals involved. In general, root canal therapy can be completed in one or two dental visits, usually lasting about one to two hours each.
In many cases, a dental crown is recommended after root canal treatment to restore the strength and function of the treated tooth. Your dentist will evaluate your tooth and discuss the need for a crown or other restoration based on your individual needs.
Yes, root canal treatment is highly effective in saving teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted due to infection or damage. By removing the infected or damaged tissue and sealing the tooth, root canal therapy preserves the natural tooth structure and restores its function.
Explore answers to common questions about root canal treatment at Levene Dental with our informative FAQ section. Whether you’re curious about the root canal process, its benefits, or what to expect during and after the procedure, our comprehensive FAQ provides clear and concise information to address your concerns. Discover how root canal therapy can relieve pain, save your natural tooth, and restore your oral health. If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation, our experienced team is here to provide expert guidance and personalised care. Trust Levene Dental to deliver exceptional root canal treatment with compassion and precision, helping you achieve a healthy and pain-free smile.
