Root Canal Treatment

Why have root canal treatment?

• Can save an infected tooth from extraction
• Removes a source of infection that could spread to other areas
• Prevents further problems that could be caused by losing a tooth
• Relieves pain and toothache
• Less expensive than replacing a lost tooth

When is root canal treatment needed?

If you experience sudden toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling around a tooth, or a darkened tooth, it may be that the dental pulp inside your tooth has become infected. This can happen for a number of reasons, including tooth decay, gum disease, injury, trauma, or stress caused by repeated treatments. Infection may also be caused by broken crowns or damaged fillings. If you experience these symptoms, it is likely root canal treatment will be needed to save your tooth from extraction.

What does root canal treatment involve?

Root canal treatment usually requires several appointments, depending on the type of tooth being treated. Between appointments, your tooth will be covered and temporarily restored.

At Holmes Dental Care, we carry out root canal treatment in-house, using a state-of-the-art dental microscope and high-powered magnification for the most accurate results. Firstly, we take an x-ray to accurately check the root canals of your tooth and make sure there are no signs of infection in the surrounding bone. We plan your treatment, letting you know of each stage.

We use local anaesthetic to numb your tooth and minimise your discomfort during treatment. We place a rubber sheet around your tooth to keep it dry and to help you swallow comfortably during treatment. We carefully remove the infected pulp and flush the root canals with an antibacterial solution to thoroughly clean them.

We use special tiny instruments to shape the root canals before washing them again to remove any lasting debris. We then fill them with a flexible filling material called gutta-percha to seal the tooth and prevent any bacteria from entering and causing further infection.

The treated root canal is sealed with a permanent filling. In some cases, we may need to use a crown to help restore tooth shape and functionality for a natural looking finish.