If you have lingering tooth pain, you might need a root canal procedure. When your dentist prescribes this common dental treatment, you may feel nervous, but rest assured that our dental team ensures you are as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.
What is a Root Canal: Can it Save My Tooth?
A root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp tissue (vascular, nerve, lymph tissue) housed inside your tooth root is infected or has experienced trauma. Removing the infected or severely damaged pulp prevents oral complications from arising and an infection spreading to other areas of your mouth and body.
Depending on the tooth, it can have one to four root canals, and the number and the curvature of the canals determine how long the root canal procedure takes.
Root canal treatment can save your natural tooth from extraction.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal Procedure
Most root canal treatments are prescribed at regular dental exams based on dental X-rays and before you experience any symptoms or discomfort. However, occasionally you may experience specific signs that indicate that you need root canal treatment.
If you experience any of these symptoms, book a dental exam with our practice as soon as possible so we can alleviate your discomfort and restore your oral health.
- Spontaneous sharp pain
- Dull constant toothache
- Pain that prevents you from sleeping
- Severe discomfort when you bite down or chew food
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods that doesn’t dissipate
- Darkening of the tooth
- An abscess (pimple) on the gums
- Swelling of the face or neck
What is a Root Canal: Reasons for Root Canal Treatment
- Injury or trauma to the tooth
- Irreversible pulp inflammation
- Decay that has reached the pulp
- Infection or abscess inside the tooth or at the root tip
- You have a deep or large cavity
What is a Root Canal: What Does the Root Canal Procedure Entail?
A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments to restore your oral health and smile. The site is numbed using a local anaesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the root canal procedure. Once you are numbed, your dentist makes a small hole in the crown of your tooth so they can access your root canals.
Your Available Dental Care dentist uses electronically powered endodontic rotary files to remove the infected pulp from your tooth root and disinfects the empty canals with antimicrobial agents. At Available Dental Care, we use a 3D Obturation system to fill your root canals with gutta-percha before they are sealed with adhesive cement to keep the bacteria out.
You will receive a temporary filling that is placed once your tooth is restored. You should schedule an appointment to have your dental crown placed within 30 days of undergoing your root canal treatment to prevent bacteria from reentering the site and being prescribed retreatment.
What is a Root Canal: Do I need a Dental Crown?
Your dentist determines if you need a dental crown or a permanent filling. Since a root canal is typically caused by advanced decay or trauma, your dentist has likely removed any decayed or damaged parts of your tooth’s crown, which can affect its appearance and function.
A dental crown is a versatile dental restoration that restores your tooth’s appearance, strength and function while protecting your tooth structure from bacteria and infection.
We use CAD/CAM technology to fabricate your customised dental crowns the same day as your appointment, so there is no need for a temporary crown or additional dental visits.
What is a Root Canal: Does a Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
Our dentists use a local anaesthetic before working on your tooth, so you shouldn’t experience any discomfort during your root canal procedure. We also offer nitrous oxide for anxious or nervous patients to help you feel calm and relaxed during your root canal procedure. The laughing gas is inhaled through a small mask placed over your nose, and the effects wear off as soon as the mask is removed.
To maximise your comfort, we also offer IV sedation administered into a vein in your hand or arm. You will feel drowsy and likely not even remember your root canal treatment. Because the effects can take a couple of hours to wear off, you must arrange to have a friend or family member take you home. IV sedation is administered in conjunction with a local anaesthetic.
You may experience increased sensitivity for a couple of days following the root canal treatment or discomfort when you bite down, but this is only temporary and subsides as the inflammation diminishes.
Contact Available Dental Care
If you have a dental emergency, call us on (02) 4062 8763. If you need root canal treatment, you will have to act quickly to save your tooth. For more information or to book your appointment contact our practice so we can restore your healthy smile.