Endodontics – Root Canal Treatment

What does an endodontist do?

All teeth have a soft tissue inside called pulp which contain nerves. If a tooth is severely decayed, fractured or has undergone many dental treatments, bacteria can enter into the root canals and infect the pulp.

This can be extremely painful so the purpose of an endodontic treatment is to prevent or eliminate the disease within the tooth and surrounding bone.

Commonly known as root canal treatment, the endodontic procedure is highly successful and involves removing the bacteria within the affected tooth, disinfecting, and then thoroughly cleaning its root canals. The treatment requires the skill and experience of a specialist endodontist and does take time to complete.

Before treatment, a local anaesthetic is given and once the root canals have been thoroughly cleaned, they are then filled with a rubbery material to seal and prevent bacteria from re-entering.

How long does a root canal take?

The root canal treatment can be done in one or two sessions, or over one to two hours, depending on the complexity of each case. The tooth will be sensitive for up to 24 hours after the treatment, but pain killers can be taken to relieve the pain.

After the endodontic treatment, your tooth will be weaker and may break or fracture more easily. We advise that it is restored properly by a dentist.