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ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

While most patients cringe in fear at the mention of the words root canal or root canal treatment, the procedure is a relatively comfortable and simple procedure.

 

What Does Root Canal Treatment Involve?

The goal of root canal treatment is to save a heavily damaged tooth that cannot be saved through other types of dental treatment. During a root canal treatment, the affected nerves and blood vessels to the tooth are removed while the patient is under anesthetic. The tooth is then filled with a special filling material to occupy the canals in the tooth.

Why Is A Root Canal Needed?

Root canals are often necessary to save a tooth that has had severe trauma. All teeth contain a pulp in the inner portion of the tooth. The pulp is comprised of nerves, blood vessels and other living tissues that ensure the health of the tooth. If a tooth experiences severe trauma, the tissues located inside the tooth may become infected and begin to die. If the
tissues are not removed in time, pain will begin to develop in that tooth and an infection may occur. Untreated infections can grow in size and affect the overall health of the body, so it is vital that infections in the mouth be treated quickly. Root canal treatment will allow all infected tissues to be removed and allow the tooth to be saved.

Examples of teeth that may need root canal treatment include:

  • ​Teeth with heavy decay that spreads to the area of the pulp
  • ​Physical contact or trauma to the tooth, even if the tooth shows no sign of breakage. There may be discolouration of the tooth when compared to nearby teeth.
  • ​A tooth that is broken or cracked. Keep in mind that these cracks may not always be visible.
  • ​A tooth with a history of dental treatment or a heavily restored tooth.

Root Canal Signs:

  • ​Appearance of a pimple or gum boil that is located on the gum above an affected tooth. This is often a sign that an infection is draining from an abscessed tooth.
  • Darkened tooth appearance after injury or trauma to the tooth.
  • Extreme tooth pain.
  • ​Experiencing pain during chewing or when consuming hot drinks and food.
  • ​Swelling of the face in the affected area

Dental Considerations

Most root canal treatments are performed in one or two appointments by your dentist. In complicated cases, you may need to be referred to a root canal specialist called an Endodontist. If you think you may need root canal treatment or are experiencing any of the above signs, contact us to schedule your appointment right away.