Root Canal Treatment

General Dentistry: White Fillings, Gum Disease, Head and Neck Pain Relief, Snoring

A root canal can become infected and diseased due to decay, fracture or tooth injury. Previously, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you would probably lose that tooth.

Today, with a special dental procedure called a Root Canal Treatment (RCT) we are able to remove the infected nerve, enabling us to save your natural tooth.

The nerve inside each tooth provides nutrients and sensation to the tooth. If bacteria manage to get inside the nerve chamber, they start to destroy the nerve tissues and the tooth will eventually become infected or an abscess will form. Tooth loss may result.

Some common reasons for bacteria reaching the nerve chamber:

• Severe decay
• Trauma to the tooth
• Fracture of the tooth
• A cracked filling that has been left untreated

RCT involves the removal of the nerve tissue and the cleaning, sterilisation and sealing of the root canal to protect it. TLC Dental advises that a crown is then placed on to the tooth to protect it and help make it stronger.

RCT is a relatively simple procedure which can be very successful. It can save a severely infected tooth from being extracted. It may involve several appointments, depending on the severity of the decay.