Root Canal Therapy

WHY DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

WHY DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Inside the tooth under the hard enamel and dentine layers is a soft tissue called the pulp.

The pulp is made of blood vessells, nerves and connective tissues and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development .

The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root.
The pulp may become inflamed or infected due to significant decay, previous large restorations or trauma .
When this happens,the tooth will let you know with the following signs.

• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold even when the stimulus has been removed. Sever pain when biting or chewing.
• Pimple on the gum/ swollen tender gum.

If it is determined the pulp is no longer viable then the only treatment options are a Root Canal Treatment or tooth extraction. The pulp is vital during the tooths development but once fully matured the tooth can exist without it.

PROCEDURE

The Root Canal Treatment consists of a number of steps over several spaced out dental visits.

STEP 1 PULPECTOMY – Removal of the.diseased pulp, cleaning of the canals, application of medicated dressing and temporary filling.

STEP 2 CHEMOMECHANICAL PREP– The pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, measured and shaped in preparation for filling, application of medicated dressing and temporary filling.

STEP 3 OBTURATION the root canals are filled and sealed with gutta purcha (a rubber like material) and a temporary filling is placed.

STEP 4 PERMANENT RESTORATION– Once the root canal treatment is completed a permanent composite filling will placed. It is advisable to crown root filled teeth to prevent fracture and leakage which is a leading cause of root canal failure.