Endodontic treatment is more commonly known as root canal therapy. Root canal therapy has long had a reputation as a painful procedure; however, this is not actually the case as it is designed to relieve pain caused through an infected tooth.
Advancements in dental medicine and the development of specially designed instruments, means a root canal procedure can be completed in complete comfort in as little as two appointment visits.
Saving and restoring your natural tooth that would otherwise require extraction, to its full strength and function is the main purpose of endodontic therapy. It may require endodontic treatment if the soft tissue, or pulp, found inside your tooth chamber has become infected and inflamed. This can be the result of deep decay, gum disease (periodontitis), a crack or chip; sometimes an accident can cause pulp damage but not visually broken your tooth.
If the infection or inflammation is not treated effectively and quickly, it can be the cause severe pain, which can develop into an abscess that will need to be drained. In addition the toxins from the bacteria that has caused the infection can extend to your jawbone resulting in substantial health problems. In some cases where the infection is extensive and not treated quickly, there may be no other alternative other than removal.
After completing a thorough examination by one of the Tweed Smilecare dentists to determine the most appropriate course of treatment, a local anaesthetic is administered to numb your tooth, hence making the procedure very comfortable.
A rubber dam is a latex sheet, which is placed to isolate the tooth being treated; this maintains a clean, sterile environment and prevents infection from spreading to other areas of your mouth.
Once prepared; the first step is to make an opening in the top of the tooth so our dentist can gain access to the infected pulp and remove it. With clinical precision and utilising fine instruments, they are able to remove the infected pulp, clean, sterilise and re-shape the inside of the root chamber into which they place a rubber compound called Gutta Percha. These tiny cone shaped fillers replace the pulp and seal your tooth from any further infection.
Once your infected tooth has been treated, it needs to be restored to its full strength. Because teeth that undergo endodontic therapy have had severe decay which must be fully removed, it will be very brittle, and a porcelain crown is the ideal restorative solution.
A mould of your tooth is made so our CEREC machine can fabricate an exact replacement. Your new crown is placed over your damaged tooth, adjusted for fit and comfort with your surrounding and opposing teeth before being permanently secured with dental cement, allowing you to return to a toothache free life.
