Root Canal Treatment is the field of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the dental pulp. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were extracted. Today, root canal treatment gives dentists a safe and effective means of saving teeth.

The pulp is made up of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, which are important in tooth development. There are very small canals within your tooth and they can become infected quite easily. This causes the pulp inside your tooth to become infected as well. Pain and swelling may accompany the infection. Even in the absence of pain, certain by-products of a diseased pulp can injure the bone that anchors your tooth in the jaw. Our endodontist , who is a dental specialist in root canal treatment, will remove this infection by performing a root canal procedure. This is one of the safest and most effective methods of saving a damaged tooth.

Treatment usually requires from one to three appointments. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth is then cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed to prevent recontamination of the root canal system.



Why have root canal treatment?
The alternative to root canal treatment is extraction of the infected tooth. However, in order to keep your mouth supported and prevent the problems caused by missing teeth, Appearance Matters would always recommend keeping natural teeth wherever possible.

Removal of the tooth is preferable to no treatment at all, as an infected tooth can cause further painful complications if left in the mouth. The pulp will not heal of its own accord once it has become infected.

The Procedure

1. Our endodontist will examine the tooth and x-rays before numbing the area around the affected tooth. A small protective sheet called a "dental dam,” is placed over the area. This will isolate the tooth and keep it clean and free of saliva throughout the procedure. We will then drill through to the pulp area, either through the top or the back of the tooth. Very small instruments and an antiseptic solution will be used to clean the pulp and root canals and a space is shaped for a filling.

2. When the space has been cleaned and shaped, we will fill the root canal with a biocompatible material. This is usually a flexible plastic material called "gutta-percha” ensuring that the root canals are completely sealed. Normally, a temporary filling will be inserted to close the opening. The temporary filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored.

3. After your final visit, you must return to our clinic for the restoration work. If there is no sign of any infection a crown or permanent filling will be inserted after the root canal procedure.