What Is Root Canal Treatment?

If your first thought regarding root canal treatment is that it’s unbearably painful, stick with us. You might be surprised. We’re going to explain to you everything you need to know about root canal treatment, what the signs are you might need it, and how to avoid needing it in the first place! If you require a root canal appointment, contact our friendly dental team at 020 7622 5333 or via our online booking system.

Root canal treatment in Clapham, London, is used to repair and save a tooth whose pulp is badly decayed or infected. This pulp is composed of nerve tissue and blood vessels that become infected or damaged through cavities. During root canal treatment, the damaged pulp is removed using dental files. A series of these files of increasing diameter are each subsequently placed into the access hole and worked down the full length of the tooth to scrape and scrub the sides of the root canals. The tooth is then sealed off from further interference. It’s far more preferable to save a tooth rather than extract and replace it because losing a tooth can take a serious toll on your dental health.

What are the signs that root canal treatment is needed?

Infected dental pulp has many symptoms that indicate you might need an endodontist’s attention. If you experience severe toothache and pain when chewing or biting, prolonged sensitivity and pain to hot or cold temperatures, discolouration, and swollen and tender gums. You might also find that you develop a persistent puss-filled ‘pimple’ on the gum or tooth root, known as an abscess. Once lumps or abscesses begin to develop, this indicates that the infection has worsened, and you should definitely seek professional attention if you hadn’t already.

Does root canal treatment hurt?

This is a common misconception! Root canal treatment doesn’t hurt more than any regular filling does, but possessing an infected tooth before treatment hurts. The pain and discomfort of needing root canal treatment is the painful part, whereas the treatment being carried out is relatively non-traumatic. This is because your tooth’s pulp contains nerve tissues whose primary functions are sensory. Inflamed and infected pulp angers these nerves, causing them to throb with pain to warn you of the infection. For a few days after your treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive because of natural tissue inflammation, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort is to be expected and easily controllable with over-the-counter pain management such as ibuprofen.

How does your pulp become infected?

Your tooth’s pulp becomes infected through a domino effect of decay and cavities. When you don’t brush your teeth regularly and don’t keep up a hygiene routine, plaque and bacteria build-up on your teeth. They eat away at your protective enamel, revealing the more sensitive layers of the tooth beneath. If these cavities are left untreated, the bacteria continue to burrow until they reach the pulp and cause an infection there. Preventing these kinds of painful infections is incredibly simple – as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. Regular dental check-ups and hygiene appointments are also important to maintaining your dental health, so make sure you don’t become a stranger to your dentist!

We always battle to save your natural tooth to provide you with cost-effective and beneficial treatments that don’t jeopardise your dental health. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above or would just like a routine hygiene appointment to stave them off, enquire online or speak to a friendly member of the team on 020 7622 5333 to book your appointment today.

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