Root Canal
Root canal therapy treats the infected root (or nerve) of a tooth and is done to save the tooth from needing to be extracted. Root canal therapy is done over two appointments.
At the first appointment, we drill down through the tooth to the infected part of the root. The infected root is then removed and the area thoroughly cleaned and medically treated to prevent any further infection from forming.
The second appointment is scheduled with time for the infection to completely resolve and at this appointment, we again drill through the tooth to access the root. The root is then filled with a safe and permanent material with stabilises the tooth. A permanent seal is then placed in the gap left after the infected root was removed. Sometimes a crown is also needed to give strength back to the tooth.
Root canal therapy is done under local anaesthetic to reduce pain. The description of the treatment sounds painful, however it should not cause any more discomfort than a normal filling. We understand however that patients may prefer a higher level of anaesthetic and if so, we can use nitrous oxide or ‘happy gas’ to alleviate anxiety.
IV Sedation
In cases of higher dental anxiety, or where more than one root canal needs to be done at once, we can book the services of our monthly IV Dental Anaesthetist who visits our surgery to manage the patient under a twilight sedation while our dentist undertakes the treatment.
How do roots get infected?
Roots, or nerves of teeth generally become infected when a hole in the tooth (decay) is left untreated.
Bacteria can then pass through the hole in the tooth and travel down to the roots. This causes infection and pain.
Other causes of root infection include gum disease and trauma.