A Guide to Root Canal Dentistry

Root canals are an incredibly safe, effective and straightforward dental treatment. However, they are often poorly understood. If you’ve been told that you need a root canal, or you think you might need one, you’ll want to get your facts straight and put your mind at ease. Read on for our guide to root canal treatment Woden with everything you need to know. 

What is Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure that treats infection within the root of a tooth. The root is the part of the tooth that anchors it to the jawbone. Inside there is a mixture of blood vessels and nerves, known as the pulp. Although the pulp is vital when your teeth are growing and developing, they can then survive without it. Root canal therapy works to remove the pulp and fill the space. So, while the tooth is technically no longer alive, it still feels and functions just like it always has. 

The Purposes of Having a Root Canal

When a tooth becomes badly decayed, and the infection reaches its root, a standard filling will no longer suffice. While antibiotics can temporarily remove the infection, further problems will follow. The infection can return, leading to an abscess or spreading to the jawbone. In the past, the only solution was to remove the tooth in question. However, nowadays, a root canal dentist can save the tooth. This results in several benefits:

• Natural-looking – your tooth looks the same as it always has
• Supportive – your other teeth are protected from excess use
• Functional – you can eat and bite as normal

When is Root Canal Therapy Needed

There are several reasons why the root of a tooth can become irritated, inflamed and infected. It might be caused by deep decay, repeated dental procedures, cracked or loose filings or trauma to the tooth. However, whatever the cause, once the infection has reached the root, you will probably know about it. 

If you need a root canal, you will probably be able to either see a visible injury or swelling or you’ll experience sensitivity or pain. The type of pain could be constant or irregular, sensitivity could be dull or sharp, and swelling can also come and go. However, none of these signs should be ignored. Searching for a root canal near me and consulting a reputable dentist as soon as possible is vital if you are to save your tooth and relieve your discomfort. 

Treatment Process After Having Root Canal Therapy

Once you’ve found someone who can perform a root canal near me Woden, you might think that there is nothing left to do. However, although finding a great root canal dentist is vital to get great results, you also have a part to play after having root canal therapy. 

There are three stages to the treatment process after you’ve had a root canal:

• Straight away – as your mouth will still be numb for several hours after your root canal treatment, you’ll need to take it easy. Don’t eat anything or drink anything hot or you may accidentally bite yourself or burn yourself. Then, once the numbness subsides, you can relieve any pain with over-the-counter medication. 
• After a few days – hopefully, you won’t feel any pain at this point, although if there is still some swelling, you can continue to take medication to relieve any discomfort. As your tooth is healing, you’ll want to eat a soft diet and to try to chew on the opposite side for the first week or so. 
• A week later – from this point on, your tooth should feel the same as all the others. However, that doesn’t mean that you can ignore it. To help prevent further decay, you’ll need to practice excellent oral hygiene and to visit your dentist regularly. 

Once you’ve had root canal treatment Woden, your tooth should last you for many years to come. However, follow up appointments are vital. In some cases the filling might not be strong enough to withstand constant biting forces. In that case, you may need to have a crown fitted to protect the root canal. The only way to know is to ensure you consult your root canal dentist in Canberra.