What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment will help you save your tooth when its core has become infected. This can happen due to:
- Deep decay
- Damaged or cracked tooth due to trauma
- Excessive wear of the enamel and dentine
- Severe gum disease
If you need root canal treatment, you may experience symptoms such as a bad taste in the mouth, pain, tenderness of the gums surrounding the tooth and prolonged periods of sensitivity.
How is root canal treatment carried out?
Root canal treatment is a painless procedure that can help you save your tooth. It is usually carried out in two appointments.
First, your dentist will take an x-ray then give you a local anaesthetic. They will then open the top of your tooth and use a tool to remove any infected pulp. Once this has been done, your dentist will clean and enlarge the root canal and apply a temporary fitting.
At your second appointment, your dentist will remove your temporary filling and replace it with a permanent root canal fitting. You may also be offered a crown to protect your tooth.
