Root Canal Treatment
“Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”
—Atristotle
What is a root canal therapy and when is it needed?
A tooth is a living structure with nerves and blood supplies within its root. This part of the tooth is called the pulp. A root canal therapy involves the removal of the infected or inflamed pulp in order to disinfect the bacteria inside the root. Once sufficient disinfection is achieved, the space where the pulp was is filled with dental materials and sealed.
The root canal therapy is indicated when the pulp inside the tooth is irreversibly damaged by tooth decay, deep fillings, fractures or trauma. This irreversible damage can manifest as cold/hot sensitivity, toothache or swelling, but can also have no symptoms in some cases.
The root canal therapy allows you to keep a tooth that would otherwise require extraction. Despite the common belief that root canal therapy is very painful, most of the time the procedure is painless.
But I heard root canal treatments don’t work?
A root canal therapy is often difficult procedure that requires a lot of patience for the dentist. There are some risks and possible complications that may occur with these treatments that may reduce the chance of long term success. As any good dentist would, we have measures in place to reduce the likelihood of these complications.
At Prestige Dental, we also utilise conservative preparation techniques with advanced devices to safely and accurately prepare the root canals. We also have disinfection protocols advocated by latest research and adopt bio-ceramic sealers that are very effective at reducing bacteria and achieving long-term seal.
Modern research shows that root canal treatments have excellent long term success on average, although this depends on factors such as previous condition of the tooth and oral hygiene practices.
What happens next after a root canal therapy?
The tooth becomes structurally weakened after a root canal treatment due to previous decay, deep filling and/or the access for the treatment. The tooth becomes brittle and dry and prone to fracture.
This means that root canal treated teeth, especially the back ones will need protection by the means of onlays or crowns. This protection is done anywhere between immediately after root canal treatment to 6 months after depending on the case.
Root Canal
Eliminate Painful Tooth Infection With a Root Canal Treatment
A root canal treatment is an effective way to eliminate severe tooth infections without extracting the entire tooth. After a root canal, your teeth look the same, but you will no longer feel any pain or discomfort at the site of infection. Prestige Dental is a trusted dental practice in Auckland that provides professional root canal therapy for infected teeth.
Your teeth are attached to your jaw with hollow bony structures beneath the gums called root canals. Root canals contain nerves, blood vessels, and other cells - collectively known as the pulp. Sometimes, the pulp gets infected, and you need to remove the infected parts with root canal therapy in three phases:
Clean the root canal out. The dentist makes a small opening in your tooth to remove the dead and damaged pulp from the root canal. Your dentist carefully removes all the decayed tooth pulp and disinfects the area from infection-causing bacteria.
Fill the root canal. Once we have decontaminated the root, we will fill it with a rubbery dental material and dental cement - sealing it completely. The filled tooth is void of nerves, and you will not feel any pain at all.
Apply crowns or fillings. After root canal therapy, your dead tooth will become weakened and brittle. It is best for us to apply a crown over the tooth to protect it from future damage. You can get crowns fitted immediately after the procedure or up to six months later.
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Surgery
A root canal surgery is a delicate procedure that requires patience and years of professional experience. We aim to make the process more understandable to our patients - giving you peace of mind that you are in capable hands every step of the way. Here are some common questions about root canal treatments:
Do root canal treatments work? Modern technology promotes high success rates for root canal therapy. The treatment is an effective way to eliminate pain and infection without losing a tooth.
Are root canal treatments painful? Root canal therapy is relatively painless, and your dentist will numb the area before the procedure to reduce discomfort. Once we have removed the nerves from the root canal, you should not feel any pain.
How do I know if I need root canal surgery? Dentists use root canal therapy to remove infected tissue from the centre of a tooth. Initial symptoms of a pulp infection include pain and sensitivity while chewing, tooth discolouration, swollen gums or a loose tooth.
Choose a Dentist From Prestige Dental as Your Root Canal Specialist
Prestige Dental is passionate about putting patients first. We aim to make your experience with us as comfortable and painless as possible. Our friendly team has decades of dental experience - ensuring you always receive the best treatment for your needs. We use innovative technology and best practices to give you peace of mind during your dental work. Contact us for more information.