Restorative
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment clears infection from inside a tooth and seals it, so the natural tooth can stay where it is. Keeping your own tooth is usually the better outcome.
What it is
Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp. When decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the tissue becomes infected, and that is what causes the ache that wakes people at night.
Treatment removes the infected tissue, cleans and shapes the canals, then seals them. The outside of the tooth is then restored, usually with a crown, because a treated back tooth needs protection.
The alternative is extraction, which leaves a gap to manage. That is why saving the tooth is normally the first option we discuss.
Who it is for
- You have a persistent toothache.
- A tooth is sensitive to heat long after the source is gone.
- There is swelling or a bump on the gum.
- A tooth has darkened after an injury.
- You have been told a tooth needs a root canal.
What to expect
Diagnosis
We test the tooth and take an image to confirm what is happening inside it before recommending anything.
Anaesthetic
Thorough numbing comes first. We do not begin until you tell us the area is fully numb.
Cleaning and sealing
The canals are cleaned, shaped, and sealed. Depending on the tooth this may take more than one visit.
Restoring the tooth
A crown or a substantial restoration protects the tooth afterwards. We plan that as part of the same treatment.
Questions we hear most
The treatment is done under anaesthetic. Most people find the toothache that brought them in was the harder part.
A treated tooth has less structure left and becomes more brittle. A crown holds it together under chewing load.
You could, and we will explain that option too. Replacing a tooth is more involved than keeping one, which is why we lead with saving it.
It can. If that happens on a front tooth there are options to address it, and we will talk them through.
Talk it through with a dentist before you commit to anything.
Bring your questions to a consultation. We will explain what we see and what the options are, and nothing gets booked until you decide it should.