The inside of a tooth consists of blood vessels, nerves and other soft tissues. Collectively, this is referred to as ‘pulp’. Extensive tooth decay paired with the natural ageing process accelerates pulp deterioration. Our dentists may recommend root canal therapy if you have tooth decay that has spread to your pulp, i.e. spread to the nerve.
The objective of root canal therapy is to restore your tooth and prevent further damage. Ultimately, it saves your tooth from needing extraction down the track.
Do I need root canal therapy?
You shouldn’t ignore the signs of pulp infection. Left untreated, the infection can spread to your gums and jaw, with serious health consequences.
Generally speaking, patients need root canal therapy often turn to us because of:
- Ongoing toothache
- Localised tooth sensitivity
- Darkening of a tooth
- Jaw tenderness
- Localised gum swelling
It can be difficult to identify your need for root canal therapy by your observation. Booking an oral examination with one of our dentists is the sure way to know if you need this treatment or not.
What to expect when having root canal therapy
At Clarity Dental, we pay extra attention to your comfort. This combined with the skills of our experienced dentists and our high-tech approach to dental treatments means having a root canal at our practice is nothing to stress about.
After your initial assessment, two appointments are usually needed to complete root canal therapy.
Numbing
We’ll try our best to make sure the area is totally numb before commencing any part of the process. Modern anaesthetics and the way we administer it means you’ll be kept as comfortable as possible! Our dentists will also talk you through every step of the process, so you always know what’s happening.
Disinfecting your tooth
Once the area is numb and you are feeling comfortable, your dentist will place a rubber dam on your tooth to ensure a clean and dry environment. They will then carefully remove the infected pulp and tooth decay. The objective when doing this is always to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible.
Temporary sealing of your tooth
A special filling material will be used to temporarily seal your tooth and your appointment for the fitting of your permanent crown will be scheduled. If your tooth is too heavily infected, medication may be placed inside your tooth, allowing it to heal before being temporarily or permanently closed off in a subsequent appointment.
Crown fitting & adjustments
The final step is the fitting and securing of your crown once it is made. This will permanently seal off the tooth, preventing further damage and restoring its strength and appearance.
Aftercare
It’s important to consume a diet of soft foods whilst your tooth is sealed with the temporary filling. Once your permanent restoration has been fitted, you can resume your normal diet.
To prolong the life of your dental work, good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are vital. It’s also a good idea to have an X-ray taken of the area in which you had root canal therapy to ensure that it is healing well.
If decay has reached the nerve of your tooth, don’t worry. We’re here to help you
Root canal therapy is a very common procedure. It has a reputation of being undesirable and painful. But when done properly it is actually painless. Every tooth in your mouth is composed of a crown and a root. When a cavity or bacteria penetrates the tooth, the root and its nerves become irritated. As a result, the bacteria within the pulp cavity needs to be removed and cleaned in order to restore the tooth to its healthy state. Following the procedure, the tooth is fragile and consequently is restored with the natural crown for a lifetime of durability. Root canals have a success rate of 95% or greater. Most root canal are diagnosed by patients’ sensitivities to a specific tooth. Be sure to consult your dentist any symptoms or discomfort occur.