Endodontics
Dentistry.
A Root canal treatment removes infection from inside a tooth and helps avoid extraction. Teeth are living parts of the body and have a nerve and blood supply to the dentine, inside the enamel, through the roots of the tooth. If the enamel decays so much that the nerve chamber is exposed, there is often an infection. This is an extremely painful situation and usually hard to tolerate. In the final stages, the nerve is removed, and this process is called 'RCT' - the canal is accessed, the nerve removed, the canal is cleaned and then sealed to prevent further infection. The tooth as a whole remains anchored and stable in the socket avoiding the need for an extraction, for very many years. Since the tooth may no longer be vital with the sealing of the canal, a filling may be recommended to ensure that further infection is prevented, or a crown may be recommended to maintain tooth strength.
What to expect.
Investigation of the tooth to assess cause of pain Accessing the canal to clean it, and then seal it. Possible restoration of the tooth.
This resolves nerve-related pain caused by infection of the nerve chamber and allows the natural tooth to function normally for many years to come (once restored). Complex endodontic treatments are often performed by special interest clinicians, or specialists, as one of the most intricate of dental treatments.
Suited to
Patients with infection inside a tooth and in pain.
Good to know
Patients with infection inside a tooth and in pain. The procedure may take from 45-90-120 minutes A restoration may be recommended afterwards.
A calm,
considered visit.
Do root canals hurt?
Modern treatment is usually comfortable.
Why do I need one?
To save an infected tooth.
How long does it take?
Depends on the tooth and complexity. It can be 45 minutes or it can be 2 hours for the molars with complex root morphology.
Will I need a crown?
Often beneficial for molars as the devitalised tooth is protected from direct biting forces. After a RCT, teeth become a little more brittle over time.
How successful is it?
Success rates are generally high. When done by an experienced endodontist, success rates even on complex molars are above 80%. It is important to be aware that no root canal treatment is 100% guaranteed to succeed.
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