Root canal treatment eradicates all infection from the root canal system of an infected tooth. The infected pulp is removed and the root is cleaned and filled to prevent further infection.

A root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure and may require more than one visit to the practice. At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed, and any abscesses drained. The root canal system is then thoroughly cleaned and shaped to receive a root canal filling. A temporary filling may be placed and the tooth is allowed to settle. At a later appointment, a permanent filling is fitted, usually followed by a crown to protect the treated tooth.

The symptoms of an abscess can range from dull ache to severe pain and the tooth may be tender when you bite. Some people don’t feel any pain at the early stages of infection, but once an abscess develops it is hard to ignore. If you’re in pain, contact Oxley Park Dental Practice straight away!

If your tooth has darkened it is likely to mean infection has killed or is killing the nerve of the tooth. This would need a root canal treatment.

It is commonly thought that root canals are painful, but most of the time they are not. Due to technological advances in dentistry and dental treatments, root canals are either painless or about as painless as getting a filling.

It depends on the severity of the infection and decay. If your tooth can be salvaged, Dr Bechar will remove the decay only and leave the remaining part of the tooth in your mouth, covering it up with a dental filling or crown. If the damage is too extensive the tooth may need to be extracted, in which case you might want to consider replacing it with a dental implant to protect the health and structure of your jaw.

Again, this is dependent on the severity of the case but in general, root canals usually take 2 hours or less. If your problem is particularly severe, you might need another visit to the practice to complete the procedure.