ROOT CANAL

What is a root canal?

A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, well over 14 million every year. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.

At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.

If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort. In addition, we will provide nitrous oxide analgesia, if indicated. You will be able to drive home after your treatment, and you probably will be comfortable returning to your normal routine.

Root canal treatment

What is a root canal treatment?

Inside the tooth is a hollow centre containing ‘pulp’. Pulp is a sensitive tissue made up of blood vessels and nerves that provides oxygen, nutrients and feeling to the tooth.

The pulp is found all through the tooth and the space where the pulp sits in the root is called the root canal.

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that replaces damaged or infected pulp in the tooth’s root canal, with a filling.

Why might I need a root canal treatment?

If you have damaged or infected pulp in one or more of the roots of your teeth, or an abscess has developed, you may need a root canal treatment. This damage or infection may have been caused by untreated dental decay, decay beneath a filling, tooth damage, tooth grinding (bruxism ) or gum disease.

Please note: Root canal treatment will not be offered if the tooth is loose or if only a small amount of tooth remains as the treatment is not likely to be successful in these cases.

What should I expect with root canal treatment?

This procedure may need to be completed over several visits.

• The infected tooth.

• The dental professional will make an opening in the top of the tooth.

• The diseased pulp and bacteria are flushed out with disinfectant and the root canals are cleaned with special instruments.

• The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.

• The tooth opening is restored with a filling.

• After a root canal treatment, a tooth becomes brittle. It can be strengthened (to stop it from splitting while eating) with a cap or ‘crown’.

What are the alternatives to a root canal treatment?

• Remove the tooth – Removing the tooth will leave a gap that may need to be replaced by an artificial tooth.

• Leave the tooth untreated – If left untreated an infection may occur and can spread to the jaw. Pus can build up and cause pain. Cysts may also develop and need further treatment.

Are there risks involved in a root canal treatment?

Like any medical procedure, a root canal treatment poses some risk and, on rare occasions, there may be complications. These complications may result in a tooth needing additional treatment, referral to a specialist* or may result in the tooth needing to be removed.

Please note: In most cases root canal treatment is very successful. Speak with us if you have any concerns about the treatment.

Fillings are used to restore teeth to their normal shape, appearance and function by filling in cavities caused by tooth decay.  Fissure sealants are of value in the prevention of tooth decay as they fill in the natural pits and fissures in the back (molar) teeth where dental decay occurs most often.

Fillings

Fillings are more often required in the molar (back) teeth where decay rates are higher. The need for fillings due to tooth decay can be eliminated by correctly cleaning your teeth and maintaining a healthy diet. Regular dental health check-ups will make sure any problems are identified and treated early.

The types of filling material used by your dentist may include:

• tooth-coloured fillings

• dental amalgam (silver coloured)

Other forms of tooth restoration, such as gold or ceramic crowns, are an expensive alternative to amalgam and tooth-coloured filling materials.

White fillings

Tooth-coloured (white) fillings have been used in front teeth for cosmetic reasons for many years. Recent improvements in filling materials for back teeth mean these are now more affordable and widely used as an alternative to dental amalgam.

Silver fillings (dental amalgam)

Dental amalgam (‘silver filling’) is an inexpensive and highly durable material commonly used for filling teeth. Modern dental amalgam is a metal alloy that is generally made up of mercury, silver and tin, with small amounts of copper and zinc.

Mercury in dental amalgam fillings

Concerns have been raised about the use of dental amalgam because it contains mercury. While high levels of mercury are harmful to human health, the modern dental amalgam has low mercury content. Repeated international reviews of the scientific evidence have been unable to link the use of dental amalgam directly with ill health.

The current advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia is that, for most people, these low levels of mercury exposure will not affect their general health.

While there is currently no scientific evidence directly linking amalgam with either ill health or birth defects, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with kidney disease are not recommended to use amalgam fillings as a precautionary measure. These people should discuss the most appropriate filling material with their oral health professional.

The removal of silver fillings releases mercury into the environment. As such, silver fillings should not be removed unless there’s a good reason to do so (for example, if they are broken, new decay).

Sealants

• The chewing surface of a molar contains natural pits and grooves (fissures) where dental decay occurs most often. The bristles of a toothbrush are too large to reach into some of these areas.

• The tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried before applying the sealant.

• The liquid sealant is placed onto the surface of the tooth and flows into the pits and fissures. The liquid is then set with an ultra violet light.

• The pits and fissures are now sealed and the tooth surface is smooth and easy to keep clean.

A dental sealant is a tooth-coloured plastic film that is professionally applied to the deep grooves (fissures) on the back teeth (molars) where tooth decay most often starts.

The bacteria in plaque live in these grooves and make acid which causes tooth decay. Dental sealants assist in preventing the build up of plaque acids on the enamel surface of teeth and they are of value in the prevention of tooth decay.

A good time to apply sealants is soon after permanent teeth are fully erupted (after 13 years of age). Discuss with an oral health professional whether this will be beneficial to you.

Fluoride and fluoridated water also play a key role in protecting the teeth against tooth decay.