The Mulberry Dental Blog » root canal treatment

What is Root Canal Treatment as Explained by Your Dentist in Kingston Upon Thames

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:34:36 +0000

Also known as endodontics, root canal treatment is a dental procedure that treats bacterial infection in the centre of your tooth, referred to as the root canal system. Infection in the pulp or root of your tooth can occur from tooth decay or severe trauma to your teeth and gums. Typically done under local anesthetic, your dentist will drill into the pulp chamber of your tooth in order to remove the infected pulp. Your dentist will also remove the nerve from your root canal and then fill up each of the root canal and the empty pulp chamber with a filling. It is a relatively invasive procedure, but a necessary one to preserve a severely damaged tooth. After the root canal treatment, your dentist will most likely want to place a crown over the affected tooth to complete the restorative process. Many patients fear the idea of a root canal treatment because the pain they are experiencing from an abscessed tooth is so great. However, any mild discomfort actually caused by a root canal procedure is nothing to the severe pain and intense damage your infection will cause if left untreated. If you are concerned about having a root canal treatment done, speak to your local dentist in Kingston Upon Thames. There is nothing to fear from this safe, well established procedure.

Shepperton dentists administer root canal treatment to clear pulp chambers of infection

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:39:47 +0000

Root canal treatment is a fairly well known dental procedure, but in name only. Many people do not actually know what the treatment involves or when it might be necessary to have it done. Read on to find out more about this complex and vital part of modern dentistry.

Many of the most common dental ailments tend to affect the exterior of teeth, like cavities or the development of cracks of chips. Indeed, many of the common dental procedures are also concerned essentially with the exteriors too: scaling and polishing to remove tartar and cosmetic bonding the fill in cavities.

But sometimes problems occur within the tooth itself. It won’t happen to everyone because teeth are naturally very tough, but a period of inadequate care or a one-off and unexpected accident can lead to a problem inside the tooth. This will require the dentist to gain access to what is inside the tooth.

Inside each and every tooth in your mouth is a mass of nerves, veins and vital tissues which help to keep the tooth alive and functional. Problems can occur if an infection invades this material. The consequences can be very painful indeed and result in constant and severe tooth ache. Rather than drilling into the tooth, dental research has found that the best way of dealing with any problem within what is known as the ‘pulp chamber’ is to enter the tooth via the root and through the canal which carries in the nerves and veins.

Talk to your Shepperton dentist about root canal treatment and why it might be necessary if an infection inside your tooth begins to cause problems.

Need root canal treatment? Weybridge dentists can help

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:30:42 +0000

Your teeth are very strong durable objects, protected by a layer of tough enamel. But unfortunately they can be damaged internally by unforeseen events and this can be problematic. Often a process called root canal treatment is required to sort out any problems with internal damage to teeth.

Problems can occur because teeth are not actually solid blocks. They are hollow and house inside them an amount of important things like nerves, veins and other assorted tissues. The area which they exist in is called the pulp chamber and any damage to this area can require root canal treatment to rectify it. Any accidents affecting the mouth can cause the pulp to become infected or advanced and serious dental decay can lead to an infection in the chamber.

The root canal is often the best way to enter the tooth in the case of these incidents. Rather than drilling through the tooth, your dentist can get access to the pulp chamber by entering through the canal which brings the nerves and veins into your tooth via the root.

It is a complicated procedure which requires x-rays to determine the extent of the damage to the pulp chamber, but it is entirely necessary so that an abscess does not form. In entering the pulp chamber through the root canal, your dentist will be looking to ensure that any infected materials from inside the chamber are effectively removed and disposed of.

Keeping up with your home oral hygiene routine in the advised fashion and being sure to visit your Weybridge dentist every six months, should ensure that you won’t need root canal treatment. But accidents can happen and you should be vigilant for signs of dental pain which might mean that you need the surgery.

Getting Root Canal Treatment in Molesey

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:00:04 +0000

If you’ve let yourself go a bit in Molesey of late and not been looking after your teeth, you could be leaving yourself open to problems such as plaque and gum disease and the odd, small tooth cavity. Ok, these can be rectified quite easily if they are caught early on. But if the problem is allowed spiral out of control, dental caries could form and get deep into the tooth, leaving you with no option but to have root canal treatment to save the tooth. Now, root canals have had some bad press in the past and come with some very bad stigma attached to the treatment. In some respects, some of the tales of the pain you suffer when having a procedure such as this are true. But dental technology has come a mighty long way since root canals were first introduced and for most people, it’s really no worse than having say, a filling. On paper though, it’s not pretty reading and just ‘sounds’ positively dreadful. Once a tooth is infected and in order to save it, a dentist must first clear away the decay and rotting pulp inside the tooth. This then enables access to the roots which then are also removed by drilling or laser treatment. In some cases, the root can be difficult to get to, so the dentist must come in through the gum in order to gain access- told you it sounds ugly. But it really isn’t that painful as it sounds. With a local anaesthetic, you should feel no pain at all. Once the tooth is clear of decay, it is then filled or a crown is fitted to restore its strength. But be warned, this treatment, on average, only has a shelf life of around 10 years, after which the tooth is likely to be removed, and corrective treatment can be expensive. Bet you wish you’d kept you eyes on the oral health prize now eh?

A Root Canal is explained by a Kingston-Upon-Thames dentist

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:03:21 +0000

Root Canals are an everyday procedure for most dentists says a Kingston-Upon-Thames dentist. They may sound like a medieval torture, but they really are a general procedure to carry out. We all get infections in our teeth, most of the time a course of antibiotics will clear it up, and it won`t bother us again. However, there are some strong infections that just won`t go away and a root canal is called for to cure it. Rather than just have a troublesome tooth pulled, a dentist can drill out the centre of a tooth to get to the persistent bacteria that is causing the problem, it is often the only way to save a tooth. Once that is done the bad infection is scraped out and then the area is sterilised to ensure any lurking germs are killed off. To stop future infections a spray will coat the inner chamber with an antibiotic to prevent further breeding of germs. That done, the dentist will now close the hole with a mix that hardens quite quickly to replace the enamel that has been drilled out, painlessly I have to add. This will usually ensure that the tooth remains an asset to the patient for the foreseeable future, it will usually ensure less visits to the chair and save the patient expense in having to replace the tooth with a false one. It is done under a local anaesthetic and is a routine procedure, with little or no side effects.

A Root Canal treatment can solve many problems. A Molesey dentist tells all

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:34:33 +0000

When we hear the expression Root Canal it sends a shiver down the spine, mainly because comic dentists in movies use it to get a laugh, says a Molesey dentist. Well, it isn`t a laughing matter when people get a phobia about a simple, painless treatment that solves a painful problem in patients. It is all about infections really, we all get infections at one time or another, some infections can work their way deep into our teeth. A bacterium has a way of finding all our weak points, and in many of our teeth we have an inner chamber that is susceptible to infections. A bacterium gets in there and festers quickly, we take antibiotics that settle it down, but it’s often just a temporary measure. A Root Canal treatment is the only way to really solve this reoccurring problem and keep the tooth. Firstly the dentist will deaden your tooth, then they will drill out all of the middle of the tooth, this is a good alternative to losing the tooth altogether. Once the inner chamber is exposed, the dentist will scrape out all the bacteria and any damaged nerve tissue. This is all completely painless by the way, then they will sterilise the chamber to kill off any hidden bacteria. Finally, the dentist will fill the entire cavity with an antibacterial material; this will set as a solid substance and completely seal the hole. That should solve the problem of any future infections, and as I have already said, the name of the treatment shouldn`t put you off having it. Consult your dentist first and allow them to explain the whole procedure to you, it will make it a lot easier to handle, and you`ll be pleasantly surprised to hear from the dentist that it isn`t so bad after all.

An end to infection with root canal treatment from Weybridge dentist

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:34:54 +0000

The pain caused by an infected tooth can be extremely unpleasant and severe. Just asked anyone who has experienced it. That is why a root canal treatment is such an important procedure in dentistry. The procedure has a somewhat fearsome reputation as far as dental treatments go, but this may be attributed somewhat unfairly because of the intense pain and discomfort that creates the need for the root canal in the first instance.

Teeth become infected when the enamel has been worn away due to decay caused by plaque. This exposes the dentine and sensitive pulp to attack from bacteria, which will eventually penetrate deep into the tooth root and irritate the dental nerve. An infection soon takes hold in the root, which causes further pain, abscesses and ultimately tooth loss. In cases of infection, a root canal treatment can remove the infection, clean the sensitive insides of the tooth before repairing any damage. This not only brings an end to the pain and the dangerous infection but can also be the only chance of saving the tooth. Even if the nerve has been damaged so severely that it has died, a root canal is still capable of preserving the functional structure of the tooth.

The treatment itself involves drilling a hole into the root canal to allow the dentist to remove the infected material. Once thoroughly cleaned and filled with medicine to prevent any residual infection, the hole can then be filled with dental bonding and in some cases the tooth crowned to further strengthen its structure. The treatment will usually take place over a number of appointments but has a very high success rate and given the nature of the symptoms of infection, is certainly worth the time it takes for a complete treatment. If you are suffering from any of the signs of dental infection or believe you may have an infected root canal, make an appointment to see a Weybridge dentist who can explain root canal treatment in further detail.

Understanding the Root Canal Treatment by Weybridge dentist

admin — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:15:35 +0000

A root canal is a naturally occurring space within your tooth. It consists of the main canal and the pulp chamber which is within your tooth’s coronal part. It also has complex anatomical branches that connect one root canal to another.
The root canal space is composed of the dental pulp, a highly vascularized and loose connective tissue. It is the dental pulp that forms the tooth’s dentin portion. Endodontic or root canal treatment is the procedure used to remove the pulp from the root canals and pulp chamber to maintain the tooth.
How would you know if you need a root canal treatment? Here are two main reasons why you may need a root canal treatment:
• Infection – a pulp infection may be caused by an untreated cavity. The decay destroys the tooth’s dentin and enamel until it reaches the root canal system. This will then allow the bacteria to infect the tooth’s pulp.
• Inflammation – the pulp can be damaged by trauma, extensive restorative work or fracture. Inflammation can also occur on the pulp due to common dental procedure.
Here are some signs and symptoms of a pulp infection that may require you to undergo a root canal treatment:
• A painful tooth every time you bite, push or touch it.
• Sensitivity to cold
• Sensitivity to heat
• Tooth discoloration
• Broken tooth
• Swelling of the tooth
Your Weybridge dentist would determine if you need a root canal treatment by placing cold or hot substances against your tooth, gently tap on your tooth and feel the surrounding tissues.

Root Canal Treatment at Kingston Upon Thames Dental Clinic

admin — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:56:25 +0000

If dental caries are deep enough to reach the pulp, a root canal is required. Your Kingston Upon Thames dentist can diagnose and treat your tooth proficiently. If the root canal is more complicated and occurs in a molar tooth, you may be referred to a root canal specialist (i.e., endodontist). The pulp of your tooth contains a blood supply, nerves, and other types of connective tissues and cells, etc. When bacteria get into this pulpal tissue, the tooth starts dying; resulting in dental pain, an abscess, tooth loosening or tooth loss. Your Kingston Upon Thames dentist will examine your mouth and the involved tooth, take X-rays of your tooth, and perform additional tests to make sure that a root canal is warranted. You dentist or endodontist will then numb your tooth and the surrounding area, and place a rubber dam on the tooth to isolate it from the surround oral environment to make sure that it remains dry and clean. Then your dentist or endodontist will drill an access hole through the top of your tooth into your pulp, so that they can remove the dead pulpal tissue and bacteria, and completely sterilize the pulpal area of your tooth. This is accomplished using special files and drills to remove the pulp and infected dentin layers, and also with chemical solutions. After this is performed and the root canal of the tooth is thoroughly dried and sterilized, a root canal filling material, called “gutta percha,” is then inserted into the root canal(s) to keep bacteria out. Root canal treatment also protects the surrounding teeth from the bacterial infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed to help kill any infection present, and a mild pain reliever may be required for a day or two. Later on, a dental crown will be required on the tooth to restore it properly and to keep it strong.

Save you Tooth with Root Canal Treatment in Worcester Park

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:29:04 +0000

Root canal treatment in available in Worcester Park, and can save your tooth. Root canal treatment is performed when the tooth decay extends into the pulp of the tooth, or very close to the pulp. The dental pulp is located in the centre of the tooth, and is made up of different cells and tissues, and contains the tooth’s blood and nerve supply. The tooth begins to die when bacteria and their by-products come into contact with the pulp, usually resulting in pain. Root canal treatment can be performed by a dentist or an endodontist (a root canal specialist). After the tooth is anaesthetized it is isolated using a rubber dam and an access hole is drilled into the pulp of the tooth. The infected pulp and tooth dentin is then removed using drills and root canal files. The inside of the tooth is sterilized and thoroughly dried before to root canal is filled with gutta percha (i.e., root canal filling material). An antibiotic is usually prescribed, and the toothache goes away in about 24 hours. Sometimes pain medication is required for a few days. So go visit your Worcester Park dentist and save your tooth with a root canal!