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Root Canal Treatment in detail.

Inside teeth, all the way to the tip of the root, is a soft tissue called pulp which contains nerve and blood vessels. If a tooth is decayed or has had repeated dental treatment or fractures, bacteria can infect the pulp.

When this happens, the infection may spread through the root and lead to an abscess, an inflamed area where pus collects and causes swelling. The symptoms can range from a dull ache to severe pain, and the tooth may be tender when you bite. If root canal treatment is not done at this stage, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.

Root canal treatment disinfects the pulp and surrounding bone using files and antibacterial solution, then fills and seals the root so the tooth stays healthy. Our treatment is painless and, depending on the complexity of your case, it will take two sessions of between one and two hours.

At your first appointment the infected pulp is removed and any abscesses can be drained. Your root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. We’ll put a temporary filling in and then leave the tooth to settle. If all the infection has cleared on your next visit your tooth is then permanently filled.

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and is painless, although you may suffer some sensitivity afterwards, which normally settles down in 12 to 24 hours and can be relieved with painkillers.

After root canal treatment your tooth will be weaker and so we may suggest having a crown fitted to prevent it from splitting, safeguarding the work we’ve done to protect your tooth.

Some factors affecting root canal treatment can only be identified when your tooth is opened up; for instance a tooth may have a hairline crack but until we go in it might not be possible to know the extent of the crack or whether root canal treatment can work.

As with any medical procedure, root canal treatment may occasionally fail and studies have shown a success rate of about 90 per cent. We offer further treatments in the unlikely event of failure which we will talk you through (re-root canal treatment may be appropriate depending on your pre-existing conditions).

Extraction Treatment in detail.

We have adopted a system called the Wand. This is a remarkable computer controlled way of delivering anaesthetic. The slow, precise flow-rate is key to providing a relaxing experience without the potential ‘sting’ that used to be associated with a traditional injection.

Each of the above systems costs a little more than the traditional anaesthetic injections (£24 and £14 respectively), but if you’re comfortable with the idea of normal injections we can still vouch for your comfort.

Because we use an anaesthetic cream on your gum first you shouldn’t feel any pain when a traditional injection is administered. Within a few minutes the nerves in the tooth being treated should be fully numb. Additional top-ups can be delivered if you feel anything uncomfortable.

The extraction of third molars is quite common procedure because, owing to the position of the wisdom teeth, they can push against the next molar or against the bone of the jaw. As a result some people suffer inflammation of the surrounding gum and a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and extraction is often the best option.

Another reason for extractions is to reduce crowding of the mouth in preparation for braces. And if tooth decay infects the pulp and antibiotics don’t cure it, extraction may be recommended to prevent the infection spreading, where root canal treatment isn’t possible. Gum disease can also be a good reason to extract a tooth in cases where it has affected the tissues and bones that support the tooth.

In some cases the risk of infection is enough to warrant the removal of a tooth – if, for example, your immune system is compromised because you are receiving chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant.