Everything You Should Know About Root Canal Surgery

Root canal surgery: Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that repairs and saves a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. It involves removing the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the root canal, then filling and sealing the space.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is needed when a tooth has damage to the inside.

The roots of your teeth are where nerves, blood vessels and tissue enter the tooth. If a tooth becomes infected with bacteria or injured, it may need root canal treatment in order to repair it and keep it from dying. This treatment can be performed by your dentist at Integrity Dental.

Your dentist will drill a hole in the tooth and remove the soft centre (known as dental pulp). The pulp is made up of connective tissue, nerves and the blood supply, and extends to the root. Once the pulp is removed the space left is filled and sealed.

If necessary, you may need a crown to assist when you need to chew. For the best dental care your Integrity dentist will discuss this option with you. A crown is a hard, metal crown attached to the tooth by drill holes. It will support the tooth and protect it from decay in the future.

Why does my tooth need root canal treatment?

You may need root canal treatment for several reasons:

1. You are elderly or have health issues that prevent you from being able to attend regularly for regular cleanings and checkups.
2. You are experiencing a lot of pain from dental decay (caries) or gum infection.
3. You have had oral surgery (removal of tooth, implant or crown) as indicated by your dentist.
4. You have had an impacted wisdom tooth removed as indicated by your dentist and the extracted tooth needs root canal treatment to keep it from invading the body.
5. You have had a tooth filled and the filling has been badly placed, causing damage to the root canal tissue.
6. An implant has been placed in your mouth and the root canal treatment is required to remove decay around the implant and prevent damage to it.
7. You have an abscess or infection in your mouth (Tonsil, Lymph Nodes, Oral Cancer).
8. Your tooth has been fractured and a root canal treatment may be required because of pain from contact with blood (causing bleeding into the tooth).An oral health care clinics like Integrity Dental will guide you on this journey to make sure you are comfortable with your dental care treatment and the whole process from start to finish.

When is root canal treatment needed?

The best dental care treatment will be provided to you by your dentist at Integrity Dental, when the treatment is performed. Root canal treatment can save a badly infected or damaged tooth. Teeth can become infected or damaged from decay, gum disease, injury to a tooth, cracked or broken fillings and general wear and tear. When the dental pulp is damaged Integrity Dental will advise you as bacteria can begin to multiply inside the actual tooth. This can lead to an infection or abscess. The infection can get worse and spread through the root. When this happens, you may need root canal treatment.

Root canal treatment is usually only required if a tooth is unable to be saved. If a tooth becomes badly infected or damaged it will often become unstable and you will need to have it removed. This may be sooner than you would like.

What signs indicate I may need a root canal treatment?

Integrity Dental clinic will explain to you that at times there may be no signs of a tooth needing root canal treatment but mostly the indicators are very clear. When the tooth is infected or damaged it will begin to grow dark and you may feel pain when you bite down. When tooth decay begins to spread the pain can worsen.

Injury to a tooth or trauma can cause a problem in the front of the jaw or cheek area, or even the front teeth and cause swelling that can damage the roots of your teeth. If you are experiencing severe problems with your teeth, it is very important that you consult Integrity Dental urgently to get your tooth assessed.

Some signs include:

• Severe toothache when biting or chewing
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts after the hot or cold item has been removed
• Darkening of the tooth in colour
• Puss around an infected tooth
• Swollen & tender gums
• A loose tooth
• Swelling of the face or neck

When you have root canal treatment, what happens?

One of our best dental professionals at Integrity Dental will ensure you have an x-ray of the tooth to check the shape of the roots. This will determine if there is any damage or infection in the bone around the tooth.

A sheet or rubber known as a rubber dam is put over the tooth to prevent contamination. This will still allow you to breathe properly. Next the pulp will be removed. Your dentist will remove the pulp with a high-speed drill and then clean the inside of the tooth.

Treatment may vary depending on your dental clinic. The best solution may be to fill the space left with a filling, rather than removing it completely. A temporary filling is put in place while your tooth is healing, usually taking around six weeks. The filling is later replaced with a permanent crown that can withstand pressure to allow you to eat and chew properly.

If you are unclear or nervous about having root canal treatment, Integrity Dental will happily answer all your questions to help you feel comfortable regarding the procedure. You can have peace of mind that Integrity Dental will you with the best possible dental care treatment.