Root Canal Treatment
WHAT IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?
Your tooth may need root canal treatment (also known as endodontic treatment) when diagnosed to be ‘dead or dying’. This means that the nerve and blood vessels which are located inside the canals in the roots of the teeth have become infected and inflamed. Using the latest technology and techniques available at Maison Dental, we can relieve any associated pain and save the tooth by thoroughly cleaning, disinfecting and then filling the canals. Think of it as an extended filling that goes to the end of the roots of your teeth.
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Once we have diagnosed that the only way to save your tooth is to perform root canal treatment, we will open up the tooth to access the infected and inflamed root canals. It’s like opening up a ‘blocked pipe’. Medication is placed within to relieve any associated pain and start the healing process.
If the anatomy of the tooth looks more complicated than normal, you may be referred to a specialist endodontist for treatment.
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More appointments may be required to thoroughly clean the root canals mechanically and chemically, shape and irrigate to remove as much debris and infected tissue as possible.
Depending on the tooth, there could be one canal or on the rate occasion even more than five canals.
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The cleaned, dried canals are filled with gutta percha (like rubber) and sealer to seal the canals to prevent bacteria from re-entering.
Often – but not always – we will need to also restore the tooth with a crown, to ensure the tooth is structurally protected.