Troublesome tooth? Relax, there’s no need to lose it!
ENDODONTICS can save it for you!
The most common reason for needing Endodontic treatment is infection. In most cases the dental pulp, (soft tissue inside the canal or channel that runs through the root of your tooth), has been damaged due to deep decay allowing bacteria to reach it. Unfortunately, once this happens a simple filling will no longer “fix” the tooth. Once the pulp has become inflamed or infected you may experience some symptoms such as:
- Continuous pain
- Extreme and/or prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold
- Pain or discomfort when chewing
- Discolouration of the tooth
- Facial swelling
However, sometimes you may have no symptoms at all, this is one reason why regular dental check ups are so important!
What is Endodontic treatment and how can it save your tooth?
Your dentist will remove the decay and access the infected dental pulp. During the root canal treatment, the infected pulp is removed and the canals are cleaned, disinfected and shaped. Special dressings and temporary fillings are placed inside your tooth between each visit to help destroy bacteria and settle the surrounding tissues. The root canal treatment process relieves the inflammation and pain that you may have experienced; it is important to note that during this procedure little or no pain is generally experienced as the tooth is usually anaesthetised (numb).
The next step is to fill the roots of the tooth, sealing them off to prevent re-infection.
Root canal therapy usually takes between two to three appointments, depending on the complexity of the individual tooth and how it responds to the treatment.
What happens AFTER treatment?
After your Root Canal has been completed, you will need to restore it with a more permanent solution – your dentist will discuss this with you further, however generally a crown is the preferred option over a filling in most cases.
At Redbank Dental Centre we aim to save teeth wherever possible, many of our Brisbane and Ipswich patients enjoy the benefits of being able to have complex dental treatment completed on our payment plan system – contact our friendly reception staff of 3432 3333 to find out more!