A root canal is a dental procedure that involves removing the soft centre of your tooth, known as the pulp, which is made up of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue and aids in the tooth’s growth. Root canal treatments may be suggested by your dentist Canary Wharf when there are signs of inflammation or infection in your teeth.
What causes damage to the tooth pulp?
A root canal treatment is performed when the pulp of your tooth is injured or infected; unless you are a dental professional, it may be difficult to detect whether the pulp is dead as the crown of the tooth may still be intact. Therefore, you must visit your dentist as soon as you experience any signs or symptoms; these may include pain in the tooth, swelling of the gums and heat surrounding the gums. Sometimes the tooth may appear darker than the rest of your teeth due to the nerve inside the affected tooth dying. If left untreated, the infection can spread, causing the formation of an abscess that can be painful and cause swelling.
Common causes of damage to the tooth pulp include but are not limited to the following:
- Decay caused by an untreated cavity
- Cracks or chips in the tooth
- Injury to the tooth
- Multiple dental procedures on the same tooth
- Periodontitis
How are root canals performed?
The process begins with a routine appointment, which involves the dentist carrying out a thorough physical examination of your mouth and using X-rays to locate the infected teeth and determine how far the infection has progressed. The dentist will apply a numbing gel or cream on the gum surrounding the affected tooth. Once the anaesthesia takes effect, the dentist will inject another local anaesthetic into your gums so that you do not feel any pain during the process. Once your tooth is numb, the dentist will proceed to make an opening in the top of the affected tooth to expose the damaged pulp. They will use files to carefully remove the damaged pulp and clean the inside of the tooth thoroughly. Once the dentist removes the pulp, they will coat the treated area with a topical antibiotic to prevent the infection from recurring. They will also seal the tooth with a sealing paste so that bacteria and dirt cannot enter the cleaned canals. The process is completed by filling the opening at the top of the tooth with a sealant to prevent any saliva from entering the canals.
Aftercare
Please note that it may take a couple of hours for the sensation within your mouth to be restored. It is important to avoid bumping or hitting your jaw or face in order to prevent the filling or sealant from falling out. Your dentist may prescribe painkillers or antibiotics to prevent pain and infections from occurring due to the procedure. It goes without saying that taking proper care of your oral hygiene is extremely important when it comes to preventing the occurrence of further infections at the treated site. Your dentist may also ask you to return for further x-rays post-treatment to check whether the site is healing well.
