ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection in the center of the tooth.

Root canal treatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be extracted completely.

Why it’s needed?

The infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal) is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth.
This can happen after:
• tooth decay
• leaky fillings
• damage to teeth as a result of trauma, such as a fall

When is root canal treatment needed?

If the tooth becomes infected by bacteria, the pulp can become inflamed, allowing bacteria to multiply and spread.
Symptoms of pulp infection include:

pain when eating or drinking hot or cold foods and beverages
pain when biting or chewing
a loose tooth

As the infection progresses, these symptoms usually disappear as the pulp dies.

Your tooth appears to have healed, but the infection has actually spread to the root canal system.

Eventually you’ll get other symptoms as well, such as:

pain when biting or chewing
swelling of the gums
inflammation oozing from the affected tooth
a swollen cheek or chin
darkening of the tooth
It’s important to see your dentist if you develop a toothache. If your tooth is infected, the pulp cannot heal on its own.

Leaving the infected tooth in your mouth can make the situation worse.

Root canal treatment may also have a lower chance of working if the infection in your tooth is established.

Antibiotics are not effective in treating root canal infections. They help treat swelling and redness caused by the infection.