Root canals involve cleaning out the infected tissue and nerve inside the tooth root and replacing it with a special filling which prevents discolouration and further infections.
The delicate procedure sometimes requires two or three appointments, but most cases are wrapped up in one.
Endodontist Dr Jonny Lee will perform your root canal procedure, which is carried out chairside, under local anaesthetic, and will be relatively painless.
However, for nervous patients who might be nervous about drilling and injections, we offer conscious dental sedation, which can help calm you. For example, IV sedation and oral sedation.
Although the loss of the soft tissue inside the tooth means that it will no longer be able to detect sensations, it will still be fully functional and should not cause any future problems.
The root canal process
- Once the tooth has been numbed, the top section of the tooth is removed to allow access to the pulp and tooth roots.
- Since there is no way for the nerve and tissue to heal themselves from the infection, the decayed or infected pulp must be completely cleared out, including inside the narrow root canals.
- Once the soft tissue has been removed, the inside of the tooth is disinfected, and the end of the root is sealed off from the bone to which it is attached.
- The tooth is then filled with a clinically constructed filling material specially designed to bond to the inside of the tooth and last a lifetime.
- The sealed tooth is usually topped with a crown for ultimate pressure resistance and aesthetics.
