When pain arises from a tooth, the tooth may have become infected and require root canal treatment.

Root canal treatment is performed when the nerve or pulp tissue of the tooth has become infected in order to prevent the formation of abscess and eventual spreading of the infection to the surrounding tissue. If an abscess forms within the bone, the tooth pushes slightly out of it's socket making it feel very tender when you bite down.

Root canal therapy or endodontics involves removing the infected nerve or pulp tissue from the roots of a tooth in order that the tooth can continue to function normally within the surrounding bone.

Before we carry out root canal treatment, we first anaesthetise the tooth with local anaesthetic to ensure that the treatment is carried out comfortably and is pain free. The dentist places a rubber dam or sheet over the tooth to keep it dry and prevent bacteria in saliva from further infecting the root being treated.

When the pulp tissue has been removed the inside of the roots are cleaned and shaped with high- tech highly efficient flexible rotary instruments. The root canals are then washed with a number of disinfectants and then are dried and carefully filled with inert gutta percha and restored.

The crown or visible part of the tooth within the mouth can then be filled or crowned as appropriate. Crowns are made of porcelain or metal and serve as excellent seals for the tooth by preventing contamination by bacteria or other debris in the mouth.

Normally dental X-rays are taken both before treatment commences to aid diagnosis and on completion of treatment to check accuracy. At 32Whites we use only digital X-rays thereby considerably reducing exposure time for the patient.

Treatments are normally completed in a single appointment but occasionally can take two appointments to complete. Sometimes you may experience some post- operative pain which normally settles down with painkillers in a few days.

Our dentists are highly experienced and have carried out several thousand root canal treatments. Experience has shown us to expect a long term success rate in excess of 95%. Our practice is open 6 days a week with same day late appointments available.

What are the alternatives to root canal treatment

Tooth extraction is the only other alternative when you have a tooth with acutely infected pulp. However, it is always better to retain your natural teeth than have them removed.

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