Root canal treatment, also called Endodontics, is the treatment of infection within the tooth nerve chambers. It involves removal of the nerve and other tissue which has become either infected or inflamed within the nerve chambers and canals. This allows you save the retain the tooth avoiding extraction.
This procedure is performed over several visits and is performed under local anaesthetic.
Root canal treatment involves cleaning and shaping the roots internally, getting rid of unhealthy dental pulp, being the part of the tooth that’s made up of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues. The root is cleared of any debris, irrigated, dried and then filled with filling material designed to seal the tooth. The tooth may then have a crown placed on top to improve retain its strength. Your dentist may also recommend visiting regularly during the recovery period so that they can monitor progress through a series of x-rays.
Not every damaged tooth can be saved by root canal treatment, and alternative treatments may be more suitable. Your dentist can recommend the best treatment option for you. The cost of root canal treatment varies depending on the severity of infection and the number of canals within each root, as will the number of visits. Please discuss this with your dentist at your consultation.
