ROOT CANAL TREATMENTS
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth.
Root canal treatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be removed completely.
Root canals are valuable dental procedures used to treat and preserve teeth with badly infected roots. The pulp is the live portion of the tooth that extends into the root and contains nerve endings and tissues.
When it becomes infected, patients can experience pain, swelling and even total tooth loss unless treated.
Root canals remove the damaged parts of the tooth and infected root. In some cases, an antibiotic is prescribed to help prevent further infection within the tooth.
The organic portion of the tooth that remains may be restored using a cap or crown that provides a natural appearance and normal tooth function.
Tooth structure
A tooth is made up of 2 parts. The crown is the top part of the tooth that's visible in the mouth.
The root extends into the bone of the jaw, anchoring the tooth in position.
Teeth also consist of:
- enamel – the hard outer coating
- dentine – a softer material that supports the enamel and forms most of the tooth
- cementum – a hard material that coats the root's surface
- dental pulp – the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth
The root canal system contains the dental pulp and extends from the crown of the tooth to the end of the root.
A single tooth can have more than 1 root canal.
Why it's needed?
The infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal) is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth.
This can happen after:
- tooth decay
- leaky fillings
- damage to teeth as a result of trauma, such as a fall
When root canal treatment is needed?
Root canal treatment is only required when dental X-rays show that the pulp has been damaged by a bacterial infection.
The pulp will begin to die if it's infected by bacteria, allowing the bacteria to then multiply and spread.
The symptoms of a pulp infection include:
- pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food and drink
- pain when biting or chewing
- a loose tooth
As the infection progresses, these symptoms often disappear as the pulp dies.
Your tooth then appears to have healed, but the infection has in fact spread through the root canal system.
You eventually get further symptoms such as:
- pain when biting or chewing returning
- swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
- pus oozing from the affected tooth
- facial swelling
- the tooth becoming a darker colour
It's important to see your dentist if you develop toothache. If your tooth is infected, the pulp cannot heal by itself.
Leaving the infected tooth in your mouth may make it worse.
There may also be less chance of the root canal treatment working if the infection within your tooth becomes established.
Antibiotics, a medicine to treat bacterial infections, are not effective in treating root canal infections.
Step 1
Preparing for root canal treatment
Before having root canal treatment, your dentist may take a series of X-rays of the affected tooth.
This allows them to build up a clear picture of the root canal and assess the extent of any damage.
Root canal treatment is usually carried out under local anaesthetic, a painkilling medicine that numbs your infected tooth and the gum around it.
In some cases where the tooth has died and is no longer sensitive, it may not be necessary to use a local anaesthetic.
Step 2
Removing the pulp
Your dentist will place a rubber sheet (dam) around the tooth to ensure it's dry during treatment.
The dam also prevents you swallowing or breathing in any chemicals the dentist uses.
Your dentist will open your tooth through the crown, the flat part at the top, to access the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth (pulp). They'll then remove any infected pulp that remains.
If you have a dental abscess, which is a pus-filled swelling, your dentist will be able to drain it at the same time.
Step 3
Cleaning and medicine filling the root canal
After the pulp has been removed, your dentist will clean and enlarge the root canal.
The root canal is usually very narrow, which makes it difficult to fill.
Your dentist will use a series of small files to enlarge the canals and make them a regular shape so they can be filled.
This part of the treatment may take several hours, and may need to be carried out over a number of visits.
Your front incisor and canine teeth (biting teeth) usually have a single root containing 1 root canal.
The premolars and back molar teeth (chewing teeth) have 2 or 3 roots, each containing either 1 or 2 root canals.
The more roots a tooth has, the longer the treatment will take to complete.
If the treatment needs to be carried out over several sessions, your dentist may put a small amount of medicine in the cleaned canal in between visits to kill any remaining bacteria.
The tooth will then be sealed using a temporary filling.
Step 4
Cleaning and filling THE ROOT CANAL
(sealing and fixing the tooth)
At your next visit, the temporary filling and medicine within the tooth is removed and the root canal filling will be inserted.
This, along with a filling, seals the tooth and prevents reinfection.
Root-filled teeth are more likely to break than healthy unrestored teeth, so your dentist may suggest placing a crown on the tooth to protect it.
In some cases a root-filled tooth may darken, particularly if it's died as a result of injury like a knock to the tooth.
There are several ways your dentist can treat discolouration, such as whitening the tooth using chemicals.
Step 5/a
COMPOSITE TOOTH - COLORED FILLINGS
Composite fillings – also known as tooth-colored fillings – are dental restorations designed to be inconspicuous and natural in appearance.
They blend well with the teeth and appear more natural than amalgam fillings, which are darker and more easily seen by other people
Composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds that chemically bond to the teeth.
They can be used to fill in decayed areas of the teeth, as well as to help repair chipped or broken teeth. Most dentists use composite restorations to treat the teeth closest to the front of the mouth, as they are more noticeable when patients smile.
Step 5/b
Adding a crown
Root-filled teeth are more likely to break than healthy unrestored teeth, so your dentist may suggest placing a crown on the tooth to protect it.
A crown is a cap that completely covers a real tooth. It might be necessary to use a crown after root canal treatment to prevent the tooth fracturing.
Crowns can be made from:
metal or porcelain (or both)
a ceramic material
The dentist will reduce the size of your tooth and use the crown to replace what's removed.
A mould of your tooth will be taken to ensure the crown is the right shape and size, and fits your tooth accurately.
When fitting the crown, cement will be used to glue the crown to the trimmed-down tooth.
If there's only a small amount of tooth left after the root canal treatment, a post can be cemented in the root canal and used to help keep the crown in place.
How successful is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is usually successful at saving the tooth and clearing the infection.
Around 9 out of 10 root-treated teeth survive for 8 to 10 years.
Having a crown fitted to the tooth after root canal treatment is important for improving tooth survival rates.
If you keep your teeth clean, your treated tooth should survive for a long time.
The survival of your tooth depends on a number of factors, including:
- how much of the natural tooth remains
- how well you keep your teeth clean
- the biting forces on the tooth
But if an infection does return, the root canal treatment can be repeated.
Or if treatment has already been carried out to a high standard and the infection remains, a small operation to remove the root tip (an apicoectomy) may be carried out to treat the infection.
Recovering from root canal treatment
It's important to look after your teeth when recovering from root canal treatment.
You should avoid biting on hard foods until your treatment is complete.
After your final treatment, your restored tooth should no longer be painful, although it may feel sensitive for a few days.
You can take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve any discomfort.
Return to your dentist if you still have pain or swelling after using painkillers.
In most cases it's possible to prevent the need for further root canal treatment by:
- keeping your teeth clean
- not eating too much sugary food
- giving up smoking if you smoke
Root canal treatment
£350
1 root
Root canal treatment
£410
2 roots
Root canal treatment
£510
3 roots
