13 September 2021

What is a Root Canal Treatment?

The aim of root canal treatment is to save a tooth which has been damaged extensively due to decay or injury. Doing a root canal treatment (also called “endodontic treatment”) saves a tooth from extraction. Most dentists prefer to save teeth because generally it will function better than an artificial tooth.

The inner part of each healthy tooth is pulp which is the soft tissue deep inside a tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels. The pulp is important for normal growth, development and health of the tooth. When the pulp of a tooth is infected or inflamed tooth may become painful immediately or gradually, this is when a tooth needs root canal treatment.

What can cause pulp infection or inflammation?

  • Breakdown of a filling or tooth crown
  • A deep cavity
  • trauma to the tooth such as a hit
  • gum disease
  • crack or chip in the tooth or filling


What are the symptoms of an inflamed or infected tooth?

  • Intermittent or constant toothache that can be worsen on specific triggers
  • Pain or sensitivity on cold drinks/ air
  • Throbbing or pulsing pain
  • Toothache on lying down

What should I expect on the treatment day?
Your dentist will examine the tooth and take an initial radiograph. A local anesthetic is usually given to block pain. A sheet of latex, called rubber dam is used to isolate the tooth from the rest of the mouth and keep it clean and dry during treatment. To reach the pulp, an opening through the tooth is made with a dental drill. Using special instruments called files , your dentist will remove the inflamed or infected pulp. Each root canal is cleaned, enlarged and shaped. Antibacterial medicines may be put inside the root canal to help stop the inflammation and infection. During the treatment session your dentists may take few radiographs to check shape and length of the root canals and the success of treatment.

You may need to make several visits to the dentist to complete the treatment. A temporary filling will protect the inside of the tooth between visits. Pain or discomfort, if any, usually lasts no more than a few days, and will not be experienced by every patient. Some people may want to take a mild pain killer such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

I have heard root canal treatment is very painful! IS this true?

Root canal treatment is not a painful treatment by its nature and your dentist make sure tooth will be fully numb before your they start treatment. In rare occasions if there is pus formation around the tooth root, this will make it challenging for the tooth to be fully numb as the anesthetic solution could not affect properly.
Another major reason that people remember root canal treatment as a drastic treatment could be related to the pain and sensitivity they had gone through before heading to their dentist.

Why root canal treatment is an expensive treatment?
Root canal treatment is expensive treatment as they are very technic sensitive treatments, usually takes several sessions based on the tooth and the number and complexity if the roots.

DENTISTRY IS NOT EXPENSIVE, NEGLECT IS.

Before it gets to late call us and book for your checks up.

<< Go Back