Endodontist

A damaged tooth root can lead to severe oral health issues, including inflammation and infection. As bacteria thrive in tooth cavities, the infection can spread across the tooth structure, eventually affecting the pulp inside the tooth. 

If this happens, your tooth will need to be extracted. Root canal treatment aims to prevent the need to remove your tooth by protecting the tooth’s pulp inside the root canal.

Your teeth are anchored to your jawbone thanks to “roots”, where the pulp chamber and the tooth’s pulp sit. A tooth’s pulp is composed of nerves and blood vessels and is essential for oral health. The root canal is the section of the tooth’s root that houses the tooth’s pulp. 

When your tooth becomes damaged, it is possible for bacteria to thrive, causing a large cavity and eventually affecting the pulp and the root canal. When this happens, your tooth might have to be taken out. Through root canal treatment, your dentist will treat the infection and remove the damaged part of the pulp.

You might benefit from this treatment if you have a damaged, cracked, severely decayed, or broken tooth, or if you have experienced gum disease or a jaw injury. 

Being part of dental endodontics – the field of dentistry dedicated to treating tooth pain – the root canal treatment will be performed by an endodontist. 

Once the endodontist has numbed the area affected, a rubber dam or sheet will be placed inside your mouth to cover everything aside from the affected tooth. Then, your dentist will perform a pulp extirpation using a drill, clean the area, and disinfect the tooth. After the procedure, the endodontist will ensure that there is no infection left and fill and seal the hole. 

After a Root Canal Treatment, you can expect your face, neck, and jaw to feel numb for a few hours, during which you will need to be careful not to knock or hit it by mistake. You can then use over-the-counter pain killers until the remaining soreness is gone. 

If you are nervous about your operation, here at the Dental Health Centre, we offer several dental sedation options for a stress-free experience.

If you have been experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity, or swelling, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your dentist at the Dental Health Centre today to learn more about your options.