Root Canal Treatment To Relieve Your Pain and Save Your Tooth

Inside a tooth is a fine space called the root canal. The root canal contains the dental pulp which consists of nerves and blood vessels. If the dental pulp becomes diseased or dies a toothache or an abscess may occur. A number of conditions can lead to irreversible damage of the dental pulp.

• Decay
• Deep fillings
• Trauma
• Tooth fracture
• Infection

In the past these problem teeth were extracted but now our dentists at Smile Place Dental can offer you root canal treatment to care for these teeth.

Before starting the treatment our dentists will require an examination with x-rays and special tests to assess the health of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Sometime it is quite difficult to identify which tooth is the cause of pain. Usually a latex sheet called a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to isolate it from the mouth. Then access to the root canals is gained by drilling a hole through the top of the tooth. The root canal is measured for length and then cleaned and shaped with fine dental files. The root canals are also washed with sterilising solution. The root canals are then sealed near to their tip with a permanent filling. The tooth is then restored back into useful function.

Teeth requiring root canal treatment often have large fillings or extensive damage and will require a crown to restore them properly. These teeth are also weaker and the added protection of a crown is recommended.