Advanced Root Canal treatment – gentle dental care in Essex
Root canal (endodontics) is a treatment designed to stop tooth infection in its tracks. If you’ve experienced dental trauma or are suffering from severe tooth decay that is particularly sore, it may be that an infection has spread deep into the gum and nerve.
Our team knows how painful this can be and will want to see you right away to provide you with pain relief and treat the infection. If left untreated, an infection can lead to an abscess or even tooth loss.
Worried that you may have an infection?
Here are the five signs you may require root canal treatment:
- Severe toothache inhibiting your ability to eat or place pressure onto the tooth
- Swollen, red gums surrounding the painful tooth
- Extreme sensitivity to cold or hot food and drink
- A noticeable, painful bump on the gum near the tooth
- Discolouration of the affected tooth
How does root canal treatment work?
Root canal treatment works by removing the infection and sealing the affected tooth to preserve the underlying nerve. Canals are created deep into the tooth which is then flushed through with a powerful disinfectant that kills the harmful bacteria causing the infection.
Once the infected tooth pulp has been removed, the canals are filled to prevent re-infection and the tooth is infilled with a natural-looking composite material. Some patients will be advised to have a dental crown fitted after root canal treatment to prevent further damage to the tooth.
The Brickfields Dental Care dentists have carried out hundreds of root canal procedures for our South Woodham Ferrers community, and as such, are greatly experienced in caring for and healing damaged teeth back to their natural function.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
It is a common myth that root canal treatment is a painful procedure. This treatment is fairly routine, and your Brickfields Dental Care dentist will make sure that you feel no pain during the procedure, using a local anaesthetic to make you as comfortable as possible.
For those patients who are anxious or nervous about root canal treatment, we also offer IV sedation for extra peace of mind. You may experience slight discomfort after treatment which can be managed easily with over-the-counter painkillers.
If you’ve been experiencing tooth pain, get in touch with our compassionate dental team today.
FAQs
How long does a root canal take?
Typically, root canal treatment takes up to 30-60 minutes and may take two appointments to complete.
How successful are root canals?
Root canal success rates are very high ranging from 70-90% over 5 years.
What happens if the infection reappears?
New infections may appear after your root canal treatment despite your dentists’ best efforts to remove all bacteria. This could be because there is an undetected crack in the tooth or a breakdown of the protective inner sealing over time. If a secondary infection occurs, your dentist may retreat the area with root canal treatment or consider a more invasive method of endodontic surgery to save the tooth.