Why is root canal treatment necessary?
Root canal treatment is most often needed for the relief of pain. A number of conditions can lead to irreversible damage of the dental pulp.
- Decay
- Deep fillings
- Trauma
- Tooth fracture
- Infection
Sometimes there is no apparent cause.
What happens during root canal treatment?
- An examination with x-rays and special tests to assess the health of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Sometimes it is quite difficult to identify which tooth is the cause of pain.
- Usually a latex sheet called a rubber dam is placed around the tooth to isolate it from the mouth.
- Access to the root canals is gained by drilling a hole through the top of the tooth.
- The root canal is measured for length and then cleaned and shaped with fine dental files. The root canals are also washed with sterilising solution.
- The root canals are then sealed near to their tip with a permanent filling.
- The tooth is then restored back into useful function.