Root Canal Therapy Explained

Root canal therapy is a dental treatment that's used when a tooth is badly infected. It can help prevent the need to extract the tooth and brings relief from the severe pain a tooth infection causes. The treatment involves removing the damaged nerve and infected tooth pulp and then sealing the tooth to prevent bacteria-causing further infections.

The Signs Of A Tooth Infection

A tooth infection can occur at any time, but you're at an increased risk of developing an infection if you've cracked your tooth, have a cavity or experienced trauma to the mouth. Infection takes hold when bacteria finds its way into the tooth pulp and common signs of a tooth infection include darkening of the tooth, swelling of the gums and severe tooth pain, particularly when chewing. You may also experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods and an abscess can develop on the gum line at the affected tooth. The abscess will be filled with clear discharge or pus and may grow or rupture without prompt treatment.

The Role Of Your Tooth's Nerve And Pulp

In the centre of each tooth, there is a nerve and a layer of soft pulp. The nerve's main role is to identify different temperatures, and when it's removed during root canal treatment there is no negative impact on the health of the tooth. The soft pulp provides an attractive environment for bacteria to thrive in and starts to break down when an infection takes hold. Removing the pulp clears the bacteria from the inside of the tooth, and although you may find the treated tooth is a little sensitive after a root canal, there's no significant damage to the tooth when the pulp is removed.

The Root Canal Procedure

When your dentist identifies you have an infected tooth, they will X-ray the tooth to establish the extent of the infection before carrying out root canal therapy. The affected area will then be numbed with local anaesthetic and a small access hole will be drilled into the top of your tooth. Your dentist will insert small metal files into the access hole to remove the pulp and nerve and clean the inside of the infected tooth. Any remaining debris will then be flushed out of your tooth with a disinfectant solution. Your tooth will then be filled and sealed to prevent a secondary bacterial infection taking hold. Swelling around your gum should disappear within a couple of days, and your dentist may suggest you take over-the-counter painkillers for a day or two after the root canal treatment if required.

Root canal therapy is a common dental procedure with a high success rate. It can save an infected tooth, but it's more likely to be successful when treatment is sought as soon as symptoms of infection become apparent. So, if you think you have an infected tooth, or if you're experiencing any tooth pain, schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

For more information on root canals, contact a local dentist.