Root Canal Treatment in London

Root Canal – when is it required?
1. Root Canals are recommended or needed when an untreated cavity has caused deep decay in the centre of the tooth or there is an infection deep within the tooth. Deep cavities close to the centre of the tooth may not display symptoms immediately, however, they can be diagnosed using x-rays. Infection symptoms, when they appear, can range from mild to severe discomfort and may become more intense the longer you live with the discomfort. You may feel pain after eating hot or cold foods, which could linger for 30 seconds or more. The pain may feel like constant throbbing or pressure on your tooth, in which case eating and chewing might aggravate the tooth even more. A dental visit is necessary to treat this kind of tooth pain.
2. Sometimes a tooth may show no symptoms at all and still need a root canal. The dentist may notice discoloration of the tooth and suggest an X-ray to examine the root tip area. In this instance, it’s possible that a mouth injury such as crack in the tooth or severe tooth surface loss / wear has traumatised the tooth.

Root Canal – what if its left untreated?
1. A Root Canal is required typically if there’s an infection deep within the tooth. Without treatment, the infection could progress, causing the tooth to deteriorate further and increasing likelihood of further bone loss around the tip of the tooth. Surrounding teeth and bone structure could also be impacted if left untreated.
2. This can be accompanied by swelling and sensitivity along with mild to severe pain. In some cases, you may have an abscessed tooth and require immediate root canal treatment.

How can Root Canal treatment help?
1. The goal of the procedure is to try to save the tooth where the nerve is infected. Preserving your natural teeth where possible is often the preferred option. The Root Canal treatment clears the infection in the centre of the tooth, seals it with a sealant and dressing, and then restores tooth strength using filling material and Crowns (where required).

Do I need a Crown after a Root Canal?
The goal of a Root Canal is to save your natural tooth. The Root Canal saves a tooth from decay, but it can also weaken it in the process. The dentist drills through the tooth and removes infected and decayed enamel, dentin and pulp. As a result, teeth with large cavities are weak even when the cavities are filled. To prevent the tooth from cracking or fracture, often a Crown or Inlay restoration is advised; a Crown or Inlay provides extra protection to the tooth and also restores the natural appearance of the tooth. However, not all teeth need Crowns – our dentist can advise when this is the case.