A root canal treatment treats infection of a tooth and is often used to save a tooth that may otherwise need to be removed because of the infection. At Springwood Smiles, we have years of experience in providing root canal treatments. Here’s everything you need to know about the treatment.
There are a number of reasons why you may need a root canal treatment. However, in the majority of cases, root canal treatment is necessary because the central canal or canals have become infected. This is usually caused by tooth decay, a filling that has started to leak, or damage caused by trauma, like a fall.
To determine whether root canal treatment is an appropriate treatment option, your dentist will x-ray the affected tooth. This is the only way to see whether the pulp at the centre of the tooth has been damaged by a bacterial infection.
If x-rays show that the pulp in your tooth has become infected, then root canal treatment is necessary. This is because, once bacteria reach the pulp, it spreads quickly and begins to kill the pulp. At this point, it will spread around the mouth. For this reason, the earlier that the problem can be diagnosed, the better.
You’ll need your dentist to diagnose whether you require root canal treatment. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should book an appointment for a check-up:
If you notice these symptoms and they suddenly disappear, this may be because the infection has spread and the pulp has started to die throughout the root canal system. Eventually, the pain will return and you may also experience the following symptoms:
At this point, you need to make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible. This is because the pulp cannot heal by itself and leaving an infected tooth in the mouth may make things worse.
