Queensbay Dental Surgery

Root Canal Treatment

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, refers to the process by which a dentist treats the inner aspects of a tooth, by removing the nerve tissue, lymph tissue, blood tissue, bacteria and infection before filling in and sealing up the interior of the tooth. It's a painless procedure and most important of all, a successful root canal treatment lets you keep the tooth rather than having to pull it out.

How do I know if my tooth need root canal treatment?

Certain signs may indicate that you have a diseased tooth or infected nerve and therefore may need a root canal. These signs include:

- Minimal to severe pain.
- Tooth discoloration.
- Swelling and irritation of the surrounding gum tissue.
- Signs of infection visible on a radiograph.

What else should I know?

After your tooth's root canal treatment has been completed your dentist will need to discuss with you what additional dental work will be required so to make the tooth fully functional again. The choice of restoration will depend on the strength of the part of the tooth that’s left. A back tooth will likely need a crown because chewing puts a great deal of force on back teeth. If there is not enough of the tooth left, posts may be used to help support the crown.