Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is required when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth becomes infected. You may not feel any pain in the early stages but the dentist will be able to see the infection when they take x-rays. If the pulp becomes infected the infection may spread through the root system and may eventually lead to an abscess. If root canal treatment is not completed the infection will spread and in the long term the tooth may need to be extracted.

The dentist will first numb the tooth using a local anaesthetic. They will then remove the infected pulp and drain any abscess. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling will be placed in the tooth and it will be left to settle for a couple of weeks. Once all the infection has cleared the tooth will be permanently filled. In order to strengthen and protect the tooth it may be necessary to crown the tooth at a later date