Root Canal Treatment
Looking for a root canal treatment in Hockley? We offer effective relief from tooth pain by removing infected pulp and preserving the natural tooth structure.
Root canal treatment, also called endodontics, is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury.
The aim of the treatment is to keep your tooth healthy and functional and thus prevent you from losing a damaged or infected tooth.
Why is root canal treatment needed?
- If the pulp of a tooth becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess. If root canal treatment (RCT) is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.
- Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth.
- The centre of the tooth (pulp) can become infected with bacteria because of an injury or because of a severe, untreated cavity.
- The symptoms of a pulp infection include pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food and drink, pain when biting or chewing or a loose tooth, facial swelling,
Frequently Asked Questions about root canal treatment
Before having root canal treatment, you’ll usually be given local anesthetic. This means the procedure should be painless and no more unpleasant than having a filling.
After the bacteria have been removed, the root canal is filled and the tooth sealed with a filling or crown. Root canal treatment is usually successful. In about 9 out of 10 cases a tooth can survive for up to 10 years after root canal treatment.
Every root canal treatment is unique from person to person and occasionally the treatment can be deemed quite complex due to the unique nature of the tooth’s anatomy in which case referral to an endodontic specialist is required.
You may have heard people say that root canal treatment is painful, or you may have had such an experience yourself. The most common reason for painful root treatment is that the dentist finds it difficult to numb your tooth because of an acute abscess. In such cases special numbing techniques can be used to achieve anesthesia and treatment staged over several appointments to achieve the necessary results without discomfort.
There are pros and cons to both options and a number of factors have to be taken into consideration when making a decision. Your dentist will discuss with you the likelihood of a root canal working, the costs involved and the aftercare required. Preserving your tooth is always advised where possible however, and Spa Dental Care Hockley will work with you to achieve this.
