The patient base here at Shifnal Dental Care is far reaching, catering for many from Telford, Wolverhampton as well as several other local towns. It is interesting that during general conversation I am asked, sometimes at length, about root canal treatments. Often the same questions arise, so here are a few answers to several common queries.
From my point of view, root canal therapy is an interesting branch of dentistry and this has resulted in a number of my colleagues directing their patients to this Practice.
1. Why does a tooth require root canal treatment?
The most common reason is a pain from an irreversibly damaged, inflamed ‘nerve’ (pulp) or tooth abscess. Trauma can similarly cause ‘nerve’ (pulp) damage. Pulp death sometimes occurs painlessly and can eventually lead to a persistent infection.
2. Is treatment painful?
Treatments are performed under local anesthetic and with current anaesthetics should be painless. It is not unusual however for the tooth to be tender for two or three days after. Usually painkillers, such as paracetamol, are good enough to relieve any discomfort.
3. What is involved in root canal treatment?
The Dentist must open the tooth and find one or more root canals These contain the pulp remnants. The remnants are removed and the canals cleaned and disinfected. The resultant empty space is then sealed to prevent further ingress of contaminated/infected material.
4. My tooth feels OK after antibiotics do I really need root canal treatment?
If you plan to keep the tooth long term then the answer is yes. Antibiotics can help temporarily but they cannot kill germs inside the tooth. The cause of the problem therefore persists.
5. Why is root canal treatment expensive?
There are several reasons. In order to provide high quality root treatments, the Dentist must invest in a number of very costly instruments such as microscopes and precision, single use,
files etc.The cost of single use instruments can reach £50.
However, the most expensive component is time. To achieve success the dentist must find and negotiate all the canals, remove pulp remnants and leave the disinfectant in the tooth for adequate time. Unfortunately speeding up the process can compromise the outcome.
6. Will my tooth need a crown?
The process of root canal treatment can further weaken an already compromised tooth.
Bear in mind that a high proportion of teeth are already heavily filled/decayed before root canal treatments. To improve the long term prognosis it may be necessary to provide a ‘suit of armour’
in the form of a crown. Your dentist will advise depending on the individual case.
If you need help regarding root canal treatment please call our dental practice. We are located about 4 miles from Telford close to M54. So if you are looking for dentist in Telford please call us on Telford 460119