What is endodontic (root canal) treatment?
Endodontics is a speciality of dentistry that is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury to the dental pulp. The pulp, which some people call “the nerve,” is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels and is responsible for tooth formation. Root canal treatment is a safe and effective means of saving teeth that may otherwise be lost.
What causes the pulp to die or become diseased?
When a pulp is injured, diseased, and unable to repair itself, it becomes inflamed and dies. The most frequent causes of pulp death are extensive decay, deep fillings, trauma such as a blow to a tooth, cracks in teeth, and gum disease. When a pulp is exposed to bacteria from decay or saliva that has leaked inside the tooth, infection can occur, and if left untreated, can cause infection to build up at the tip of the root, forming an abscess. Eventually the bone supporting the tooth will be destroyed, and pain and swelling will often accompany the infection. Without endodontic treatment, the tooth will eventually have to be removed.
What are the symptoms of a diseased pulp?
Symptoms may range from brief to prolonged, mild to severe pain on exposure to hot or cold or on chewing or biting: or the condition may produce no symptoms at all.
X-ray examination at this stage may or may not reveal an abnormality around the tip of the tooth. Sometimes the X-ray will show an abnormal area even when you may not have experienced any pain at all.
What is the success rate of root canal treatment?
Endodontics is one of the few procedures in dentistry that has a predictable outcome if treatment is performed properly and to a high standard. Studies indicate that root canal treatment is usually 90% to 95% successful. Those that don’t work may still be amenable to retreatment or sometimes we may have to do some surgical treatment to save the tooth, although no treatment’s success can ever be guaranteed. It is important to appreciate that the chances of success also depend upon the specifics of each case and that without good oral hygiene and a sound restoration following the endodontic treatment, there will be an increased chance of failure. We must also review the condition of the tooth at regular intervals after the treatment and we will advise you of the appropriate frequency.
Will the root canal treatment discolour my tooth?
Discolouration seldom occurs but it can happen. However, we have many methods available now to treat the discoloration, whether it is crowns, veneers or bleaching treatments. Some root filled teeth appear discoloured because they have been filled with tooth coloured fillings that have picked up stains or with silver fillings that have darkened the tooth. In these cases, the fillings may be replaced, but often the placement of crowns (“caps”) or veneers is necessary.
What are the alternatives to root canal treatment?
The only alternative to root canal treatment is to extract the tooth, which often will leads to the movement of the surrounding teeth and subsequent loss of chewing efficiency. Extraction is certainly the quickest option in the short term
Witton Street Dental Practice, 139 Witton Street, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 5EA
For more information please contact either Lynn Major, Practice Manager, or Treatment Co-ordinator Janet Scott-Brennan
t: 01606 44588 e: admin@wittonstreetdentalpractice.co.uk w: www.wittonstreetdentalpractice.co.uk
