Do those words sound scary? Don’t worry; let’s break down what a root canal is and its procedure.
A root canal treats infection at the centre of a tooth, it can save a tooth that otherwise might have needed to be extracted. It is important to contact your trusted dental professional if you develop a toothache. If your too
th is infected, it cannot heal by itself and leaving them untreated can lead to serious complications. To prevent these scenarios from arising, we recommend routine dental check-ups and cleanings along with good oral hygiene.
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What does a Root Canal treatment procedure look like?
Initial check-up and referral:
A root canal issue is usually identified during a routine check-up or an emergency appointment due to pain or sensitivity. If we determine that root canal treatment is necessary, you’ll be referred to our expert endodontist, Dr David Jones. In some cases, additional scans may be required to fully assess the problem.
Consult:
The first step in the procedure for a root canal is a consultation with a trusted professional. Here at The Kensington Dentist, we have an in-house endodontic specialist Dr. David Jones.
In your consultation, Dr Jones will take an assessment of the tooth, chat with you about the prognosis and give you a detailed proposal for a solution. He will then write a personalised treatment plan for you along with the associated costs. After your initial consultation with Dr Jones, we will then book your treatment appointment. Root canal procedure appointments usually take 75-90 minutes depending on the health of the tooth.
The Root Canal Procedure:
Preparation and numbing: To keep you comfortable, we’ll start with local anaesthetic. At the time of procedure, you are numbed using a local anaesthetic. Root canal procedures are done under a microscope by a specialist endodontist to maximize success.
Then your clinicians will place a thin piece of rubber over your tooth and nearby gums to keep it dry. A small hole is then drilled into your tooth (crown) so they can get to your tooth’s pulp.
Cleaning: Firstly, the clinician will use specialised dental instruments to carefully remove any nerves or blood vessels from inside the tooth pulp. After thoroughly clearing the pulp, the root canals are disinfected to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
Filling the root canals: The empty pulp chamber and root canals are then filled with a flexible, biocompatible material known as gutta-percha.
Temporary protection: To protect the tooth, a temporary filling is placed, sealing the area and preventing bacterial intrusion. You will then be sent home to recover, and a follow-up appointment will be arranged with your general dentist after the root canal procedure for the preparation of the final crown.
Resorting your tooth with Crown Preparation:
Next, you will book an appointment with your general dentist for a crown preparation. A crown is what will go on the top of your tooth to give it a natural look and feel. During this appointment, your general dentist will take impressions of your treated tooth. They will send these off to the lab to make a crown. This process can take around 10-14 days to come back from the labs.
Crown Fit:
Lastly, once we have received your crown from the lab, we will schedule one final appointment with your general dentist for the fitting of your crown. Once the dental crown has been fitted, you may notice a slight difference in your bite for a day or so. However, you’ll soon be back to enjoying your life with your tooth fully restored!
We hope this answered your questions! While root canal treatment may seem daunting, it is a tried-and-true procedure designed to save your natural tooth and restore its function. By removing infection and sealing the tooth, we help ensure your long-term oral health. With the final fitting of a crown, your tooth will be fully restored, allowing you to enjoy life without discomfort or worry. If you have any questions or need more information about the root canal procedure, don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we’re here to guide you every step of the way toward a healthier, brighter smile.