Root Canal Therapy Procedure
Often patients get anxious about Root Canal therapy. However, the real truth is that the damage to the tooth is the part that is painful—root canal therapy relieves the pain!
A tooth requiring root canal therapy has a damaged or necrotic (dead) pulp. The pulp is the core part of the tooth containing the nerve and blood supply to that tooth. When the tooth gets traumatized or decayed, bacteria gets access into the pulp and causes inflammation. If the inflammation is left untreated it can lead to disintegration of the pulp. Inflammation and death of that tissue can cause a great deal of pain ranging from sensitivity to hot and cold to facial swelling and difficulty chewing and sleeping.
Teeth may become damaged enough to require a root canal through a number of causes. They include the following:
- Decay, particularly deep within the tooth
- Multiple previous dental procedures to the tooth
- Large fillings
- Chips or cracks in the tooth
- Trauma to the face
What is the Root canal therapy procedure?
Before starting Root canal therapy your dentist will require an X-ray to check for the size and location of the decay and the shape of the pulp.
Once your tooth has been assessed by your dentist, Root canal therapy can be started. The first step is to get you comfortable and numb. After local anesthesia is applied the tooth is then isolated using a “Rubber Dam”; a rubber sheet that is placed on your tooth to keep the area dry and free of saliva during the procedure.
The dentist will then drill a small hole into the tooth to provide better access. The decayed nerve tissue, pulp, bacteria and debris will all be removed using root canal files. The process essentially clears all the decayed material from the tooth in stages. All of the infected matter will be removed using a series of increasingly smaller files, rinsing between each stage with disinfectants to flush away the debris. A root canal filling is then placed inside the tooth. This procedure may take 2-3 appointments.
After your root canal therapy is completed your Parramatta dentist will then need to place a permanent restoration to seal the tooth and prevent bacteria from re-infecting it. This can either be a Filling or a crown depending on the amount of tooth structure that was damaged by decay.
Contact our dental clinic in Parramatta if you’re having dental pain, facial swelling or suspect that something may be wrong. Our dentists are happy to examine your tooth and advise you of different treatment options and thoroughly explain our procedures.