A root canal is a treatment that addresses most dental problems involving your teeth’s nerves. It can be used to repair deep cavities, prepare teeth for crowns or other procedures, remove inflamed tissue (pulp), and prevent tooth decay from spreading. A root canal involves removing all the infected pulp and cleaning an area to seal it off so more infection can’t enter. The technique was first performed in 1884 on Dr Charles Mayo’s son, who had a tooth with a pain-causing abscessed cavity.
Patients are usually numbed with a local anaesthetic to remove the infected pulp and clean out the canal. In some cases, the canals cannot be cleaned out due to the extent of infection, and a crown (cap) must be placed over the tooth. If you need a root canal, your dentist will refer you to an endodontist (a dentist specialising in endodontics). Your endodontist will discuss your case and perform a thorough examination, including X-rays and tests, to see if you need them.
How to know if you need root canal treatment
Aching teeth can lead to tooth loss if you don’t get them treated. Here are the symptoms of tooth pain caused by an infected tooth.
- Pain when chewing or biting (especially on the side or back of your mouth) and if your teeth have a “broken” feeling in them. This can happen with any tooth but is most common on molars and premolars. A pain that gets worse when biting down or leaning your head back may indicate something more serious, such as a tumour that an endodontist must examine.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold (which makes sense since nerves are sending pain signals).
How root canal treatment is performed
Root canals are inserted through the tooth’s pulp, then cleaned and sealed. The doctor may also remove any inflamed pulp or diseased tissue inside your tooth. In some cases, a tooth might need to be drilled out before root canal treatment can be performed. You will probably need 2-3 follow-up visits after the procedure: one for the initial procedure, then one at 2-4 weeks and another at 4-6 weeks after the initial treatment.
Next Smile Wollongong provides the best treatment and care for your dental health. If you need a root canal, get in touch with them. Visit their website for more information on their services.