Root Canal Treatment is a dental procedure used to save a tooth that has become infected, inflamed, or badly decayed. The dentist removes the damaged pulp (the soft tissue inside of the tooth) cleans and disinfects the canals, and then fills and seals them to prevent further infection.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal Treatment?
Root Canal Treatment helps save your natural tooth and prevents the need for extraction. It also preserves your jaw bone and the teeth surrounding it. Gaps in your jaw can allow teeth to move over time and keeping the tooth avoids this.
You may need Root Canal Treatment if you experience:
- Toothache or pain when chewing
- Sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers
- Swelling or tenderness near the affected tooth
- A darkened or discoloured tooth
- A pimple or abscess on the gum
What Happens During the Root Canal Stages?
1st stage:
Root Canal Treatment is completed in three separate stages and appointments. In stage one, the dentist first uses local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and places a clamp around the tooth. A flexible sheet of plastic is fitted around the clamp to block contaminants and keep the further bacteria out of your tooth.
The dentist drills into the tooth and clears the nerve with some small files. They then place medication inside the tooth and seal it with a temporary filling. This feels no different than a filling. After this stage, you should expect to be pain free.
2nd stage:
The second stage is to further shape and clean the bacteria out of your tooth. The dentist will take some xrays to see how long your tooth is and to know where to end the canal preparation. The dentist placed medication inside your tooth and a temporary filling and then we will wait 2-4 weeks before the next stage. This stage is much similar to the first, in that you should not expect to feel anything. Sometimes you may feel tenderness as the body gets to work clearing the inflammation.
3rd stage:
This stage is similar to the previous stages. After local anaesthetic, the dentist washes out the tooth with medication, places filling material inside the canal and makes sure that it is at the correct length and takes an xray. Once they are satisfied with the final filling, they remove any excess canal filling, and place a final filling to seal the tooth.
After this stage, there might be some tenderness again, but you should be toothache free.
After The Root Canal Procedure:
We recommend a very secure final filling, as the longevity of the root canal treatment is only as good as the filling you place over the top. In some cases, your dentist may recommend an indirect filling such as a crown or an onlay/inlay.
Why is timing important:
The aim of the root canal is to sterilize the inside of the tooth as best as possible. The medication inside the tooth only lasts 2-4 weeks, hence it is important to continue with treatment as it is running out.
If you’ve had one or more stages of the root canal but have not finished it, it is possible to continue the treatment. You may need a redressing appointment where you have more medication placed inside the tooth.
If you’ve had antibiotics for a toothache, timing is also important for this. Read more here.
Want to chat more about a tooth that may need root canal treatment? Call us on 03 5275 6565 or book online to chat with our helpful staff.
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