Root Canal Treatment.

Are you experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity? Don't wait for the discomfort to worsen.

Root canal therapy is a common dental procedure that not only relieves pain but also saves teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted.

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Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Feeling anxious about root canal treatment?

It’s a common misconception that root canal therapy has to be painful. We understand that many patients may feel anxious about root canal treatment and many patients come to us in pain, often worried that treatment will hurt even more. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Root canal therapy eliminates the pain caused by infected or inflamed pulp inside your tooth.

At re· dental clinic, we use the latest techniques, advanced pain management techniques and anaesthesia to ensure your root canal treatment is comfortable from start to finish. We invest in state-of-the-art technology, performing root canal treatments predictably and successfully, letting you save your tooth and eliminate pain with minimal discomfort.

Leaving a tooth untreated that requires a root canal can lead to severe discomfort and serious health risks due to infection.

The most common cause of needing root canal treatment is an infection deep within the tooth due to :

Deep decay, cracks & chips

Allowing bacteria to enter the pulp of the tooth can lead to chronic inflammation, a condition known as pulpitis. This inflammatory response can cause persistent pain and sensitivity to hot and cold, and if left untreated, it can lead to the formation of an abscess at the root of the tooth.

Trauma

When a tooth suffers a physical injury, it can cause damage to the nerve and blood supply within the tooth. This damage has the potential to result in the death of the tooth's nerve, which can lead to pain, discolouration, and potential long-term issues with the affected tooth.

Gum disease

Infections from gum disease have the ability to spread deeply into the roots of the teeth, posing a risk of causing significant damage to the tooth structure and potentially impacting the surrounding tissues and bone.

Unknown

Sometimes, the exact cause of the infection may be difficult to determine.

Using specialised tools, they carefully remove the pulp, clean the inner chamber of the tooth, and remove the infected nerve. The root chamber is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove bacteria then an antibiotic solution is placed inside. After cleaning, the root is filled in with rubbery material and then sealed with filling materials to ensure a proper seal and minimise the chance of any further reinfection and leakages.

Finally, the tooth is often capped with a crown, as the tooth is already weakened and compromised, often subject to fracture. The crown will restore its shape and strength, helping it function like any other tooth again.

The entire process focuses on relief from discomfort and preserving your tooth for as long as possible.

So, What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

During the procedure, a dentist or endodontist (a dentist specialising in tooth nerve issues) will numb the area to ensure you're comfortable. The dentists then make a small opening in the top of the tooth to access the infected or damaged pulp inside.

“She made me feel so comfortable.
I now wouldn’t see anyone else.
She completely transformed my smile, root canals, veneers, fillings, whitening and clean and polishing.
She was gentle always making sure I was comfortable.”

⸺

Anna M.

Toothache?

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Or Book Online Now.

If you're ready to book an appointment, you can easily book online now. However, if you can’t find a time that works for you online, please give us a call at 09 600 1739 or email info@re.dental.co.nz

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Frequently Asked Questions

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the center of a tooth (the root canal system). It involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it, and then filling and sealing it to prevent further infection.
The length of the procedure can vary depending on the severity of the infection and the complexity of the tooth's root system. Typically, a root canal can be completed in one to three visits, with each session lasting between 60 to 90 minutes.
The primary benefits of a root canal include:
- Pain Relief: It effectively relieves the pain associated with a severely infected tooth.
- Tooth Preservation: It allows you to keep your natural tooth, avoiding extractions and maintaining your natural bite and jaw structure.
- Prevention of Further Infection: Properly sealing the tooth helps prevent future bacterial infections in the tooth.
After the procedure, the tooth may be tender for a few days due to inflammation, which is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain medications. It’s important to avoid chewing on the treated tooth until it’s fully restored with a permanent filling or crown. Follow-up visits are crucial to ensure the tooth has healed properly and the infection has cleared.
While a root canal has a high success rate, a tooth that has undergone the procedure can still get infected if the outer seal is compromised by decay or a fracture. Regular dental exams and good oral hygiene can help prevent this.
If you're considering alternatives to a root canal, here are a few options:
- Tooth Extraction: Removing the affected tooth is a common alternative. This can relieve pain and prevent the spread of infection. However, it also requires replacing the tooth with an implant, bridge, or denture to avoid problems with chewing and to prevent other teeth from shifting.
- Pulp Therapy: In cases where tooth decay has not yet reached the pulp or is in an early stage, we might attempt pulp therapy, which aims to encourage the tooth to heal itself.
- Long-Term Prognosis: If the damaged tooth has a poor long-term prognosis, opting for an extraction and a dental implant or bridge might be more beneficial.
- Cost and Time: Root canals generally preserve your natural tooth and require less follow-up maintenance but may be more costly upfront compared to an extraction followed by a dental implant or bridge.
- Health Considerations: Consider your overall health, as conditions like diabetes may influence the best treatment option due to healing factors.
- Aesthetic and Functional Needs: While root canals preserve natural teeth, extractions followed by implants or bridges can provide durable and cosmetically appealing replacements.
While a root canal is often the best option for preserving a natural tooth, it’s not suitable for everyone. If the tooth is severely fractured, has insufficient bone support, or the decay is too extensive, an extraction might be the only viable option.