Root canal treatment

What is it?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure to treat infection at the centre of a tooth. An infection can develop as a result of tooth decay, leaky fillings or damage to teeth as a result of trauma.

The root canal system contains the dental pulp (containing nerves and blood vessels) and extends from the crown of the tooth to the end of the root deep in the jaw.

A tooth can have up to four roots and each has a pulp cavity.

When is root canal treatment needed?

When you suffer very severe dental pain due to infection of the pulp cavity, possibly with an abscess formation confirmed by X-ray.

How is it done?

Your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the whole tooth and then, to prevent infection, insert a small sheet of rubber to isolate the tooth from saliva.

Under X-ray guidance, a hole is drilled into the crown to remove all material from the pulp cavities and the canals are enlarged and shaped.

The cavities are washed out and antibiotic paste plus a temporary lining are packed into the tooth. A week or so later the filling is removed and the cavity is filled with a sealing paste or a mixture of resin with zinc and bismuth. The roots are then sealed with cement.

Recovery

After your final treatment, your restored tooth shouldn’t be painful, although it may feel sensitive for a few days.

Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can be used to relieve any discomfort.