Root Canal Treatments – What You Need to Expect

Have you got a root canal coming up? Although some patients find the thought of getting a root canal to be frightening, we’re happy to report that treatment methods have advanced to the point where patients no longer need to worry.

An infected tooth may be successfully treated and saved with a root canal if discovered in time.

What should you expect ahead, during, and after a root canal procedure?

Before Treatment

A preliminary examination will be performed by the dentist before determining whether root canal therapy is your best option for keeping it. A tooth with pain is likely suffering from a cavity.

You can fill some cavities. These cavities are usually shallow to moderately deep.

However, they are usually minor enough that the tooth can be cleaned and protected while the removed portion is replaced with metal or composite.

If the cavity is too advanced for this course of action, your dentist will advise getting a root canal. To give you time to get ready, they will schedule a different appointment for you.

If your dentist determines the cavity is too advanced for this course of treatment, they will advise getting a root canal. They will schedule a different appointment for you to have more time to prepare.

When the designated day comes, you’ll come as usual. With you, your dentist will discuss your options for pain management.

Dentists might suggest nitrous oxide or local anaesthetics, while others might agree to full sedation.

This will be followed by the beginning of your root canal procedure.

During Treatment

During root canal procedures, you might require an injection to relieve discomfort or pain. When performing a root canal, a local anaesthetic is typically used (numbing).

Your dentist might apply a rubber dam to the tooth area after numbing it to keep it dry and saliva-free. An isolated tooth is protected from the rest of the mouth by a piece of rubber, acting as a rubber dam.

Root canal files are tiny instruments with an expanding diameter that dentists use to extract the nerve from canals.

Using root canal files, your dentist will clean the tooth’s canals (roots) after removing the decay and bacteria. After that, your dentist will prepare the tooth by drilling a hole into it.

To avoid pain or further infection, some dentists prefer to wait a week or two before finishing a root canal. Your dentist will carefully clean the tooth in this case, administer sedatives, and fill it with a temporary filling.

After operating the root canal procedure, the dentist will frequently use gutta-percha, a rubber filling material, to seal the canals.

After finishing the root canals, the tooth will get a typical filling.

After Treatment

Following the completion of the root canal, your dentist will place a filling. Similar to the aftereffects of a typical filling, there may be some minor soreness for a few days.

Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter painkillers are typically effective for this. Once the procedure is done, and the tooth is stable enough, the dentist usually places a new crown on it.

Two goals are accomplished: the tooth is strengthened to withstand stress fractures, and an additional line of defence against future decay is added.

Through root canal therapy, decayed teeth can often be successfully saved. There is nothing to worry about, and your problematic tooth will benefit.

Save Your Teeth with Root Canal at Cardiff Dental

A root canal can help you keep a tooth and keep your mouth healthy.

Cardiff Dental is one of the very few dental practices that are accredited by QIP (Quality Innovative Performance)for meeting the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

Call (02) 4954 6888 or request an appointment today.