Root Canal Treatment
When pain arises from a tooth, the tooth may have become infected and require root canal treatment. Tests such as vitality tests, percussion tests and digital X-rays are carried out first to see if a tooth needs root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is usually carried out over 2 visits. During the first visit we remove the infected tooth tissue and stop the toothache and during the second visit we ensure that the root canals are well cleaned and sealed.
When we carry out root canal treatment, we first anaesthetize the tooth fully to ensure that the treatment is carried out comfortably. For those patients who are anxious or nervous about root canal treatment, we also offer IV sedation for extra peace of mind for anxious patients.
We then isolate the tooth with a rubber dam to ensure that the field is kept as sterile as possible and new bacteria contamination of the tooth by saliva is avoided. Wearing a rubber dam will feel strange at first but most patients find wearing the rubber dam for the duration of the root canal treatment easy and reassuring.
We use modern flexible titanium rotary files with specialist rotary motors to ensure that the tooth canals are shaped efficiently. We only use our root canal files once, in order to minimize fracture and reduce risk of cross infection.
We use high tech apex locators to establish the length of canals accurately and to reduce the radiographic dose to patients. We thoroughly clean the canals with powerful disinfectants to destroy the bacteria colonies within the tooth.
Finally the root canals are filled with gutta percha root canal filling material to prevent re-infection of the tooth. The tooth is usually filled with a composite core material and patients will be advised to have a dental crown soon after root canal treatment to prevent tooth fracture or root canal leakage.
You may experience some post-operative pain which usually settles down with pain killers. Root canal success rate ranges from 70-90% over 5 years. Root canal treated teeth can discolour, however once they are crowned this tooth dicolouration will be hidden.
Our dentists are highly experienced and have carried out hundreds of root canal treatments. Our practice is open 7 days a week with same day late appointments available.
Should you be in pain and require urgent dental care, Our 24 Hour Emergency service can even provide you with root canal treatment anytime 24 hours of the day, 365 days a year. You can book a root canal consultation appointment by calling 0208 547 9997.
Root Canal Treatment Videos
Root Canal Treatment on multi-rooted back teeth
Root treatments on back teeth can be more complicated, because they have a number of roots.
The root canals are exposed.
All roots then need to be excavated, making sure that the entire tooth nerve is removed.
The cavity is then filled with gutta percha and the tooth then filled.
Root Canal Treatment
A filled or decayed tooth with an abscess.
The filling is removed to access the cavity.
The root canals are reamed to remove the tooth nerves.
Gutta-perchas are inserted to fill the root.
These are then cut-off, sealed and the tooth filled.
The abscess will reduce.
A crown may be necessary later
