Root Canal Therapy at Bridge Rd Dental
Do you have a fractured tooth? Large area of decay? Swelling in your face or gums? You could possibly have a dying or abscessed tooth. Nerve damage and death can lead to tooth pain, discolouration and hypersensitivity. Fortunately, there’s a way to intervene before an extraction is necessary: root canal therapy.
Also referred to as endodontic therapy, root canal treatment is a protective measure that allows us to extend the function of teeth with dying nerves inside of them.
What Happens During a Root Canal?
During a root canal, Dr Shanthini Rao (Dentist) will access the nerve canal and remove the dying nerve tissues. Then the remaining pus is cleaned out, similar to cleaning out a pipe drain. When all of the pus is removed, the source of the tooth pain is eliminated. We’ll use a special apex locator to measure the exact depth of the root of the tooth so that we know precisely how far down to reach.
Next, we’ll place an antibiotic medication down into the open nerve canal. The medication is left inside your tooth for about two weeks to eliminate any residual bacteria.
When you come back to our office, we’ll fill the nerve canal and seal it off to prevent reinfection. A crown is also recommended, since a non-vital tooth will be more fragile than others.
A Side Effect of Untreated Decay or Trauma
Any time a tooth is traumatically injured, there’s a risk of nerve death. Symptoms such as changes in tooth colour may not occur for years. Then suddenly, the affected tooth may take on a darker hue than its neighbours.
Other times, teeth abscess because an area of decay, hole or crack has reached deep enough that the nerve tissue inside is exposed. As bacteria and food debris come into contact with the nerve, it causes the tissues to become infected. Eventually, the swelling and pus that are created can drain out the tip of the root.
Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
We’re very thorough and gentle during treatments, especially those like root canal therapy. In fact, Dr Rao is proud of just how comfortable and pain-free the process is for our patients.
Our practice uses advanced technology to provide highly accurate and efficient root canal treatment. With an apex locator and rotary equipment, we’re better able to detect the exact depth of your nerve canal for precision care. Without this equipment, the procedure would have to be completed using handheld instruments and estimating the length of the nerve canal (requiring more time and guesswork).
Getting a root canal treats the source of your pain rather than causes more. Until the pus and infected tissues are removed, toothaches are likely to continue recurring.
After Endodontic Therapy
Endodontically treated teeth tend to dry out and become brittle. With everyday wear, there’s the risk of your enamel chipping or eroding prematurely. To protect your tooth, we’ll place a crown over it once the root canal is complete.
With daily home care and continual maintenance, your treated tooth can last for decades to come!
In some cases, Dr Rao can also discuss internal tooth bleaching if the enamel has darkened, but a crown isn’t required.
In Pain? Contact Us Today!
Do you have swelling in your gums or face? Does your tooth hurt? For root canal therapy Richmond contact our gentle dentist today!
Any invasive or surgical procedure may carry risks. Before moving forward, it is recommended that you seek a second opinion from an appropriately licensed medical professional.
