Want to learn more about root canals? A short guide from our dentist at Spa Dental

Are you recovering from a dental abscess? Are you worried about needing an extraction to resolve the issue?

Don’t be! While not a popular procedure for solving dental infections, a root canal is the gold standard when it comes to helping patients who have had infected teeth or deep damage. It can be performed quickly by our expert team, while you lay back and relax.

When you come to Spa Dental, our team can help alleviate the woes of a dental abscess with a root canal. Performed by our dentist Sydney, the procedure seeks to stop any discomfort, remove the infection and to restore the tooth. And best of all, it has a long lifespan once fitted and is invisible to the naked eye! Great!

So, what is a root canal and why might you need one? Here is a brief guide from our dentist Sydney for your information.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure by which our dentist Sydney gently drills down to the root of a tooth, removes infected debris, and fills the drill site with a packing material.

It is performed on teeth that are deemed structurally stable and can be used to alleviate infections and to fix deep damage to a tooth that goes underneath the gum line.

Why would I need to have one?

Root canals are usually performed following a dental infection, or abscess or in cases where the pulp of the tooth has been exposed to air. This could be from facial trauma, a road traffic accident, or numerous other causes.

So, when you have a root canal fitted, it is done to protect the pulp of the tooth from the air and to prevent any infections recurring.

Will it kill the tooth?

No, it is a myth that endodontics kill the tooth.

Once the procedure has been completed, your tooth will be usable as it was prior to the infection or injury that led to it being needed. And don’t worry, it won’t turn black and will stay as aesthetically pleasing as the surrounding, healthy teeth.

Will it weaken the tooth?

Technically, yes.

As a root canal involves drilling deep into the tooth via a canal, it can cause the tooth to be temporarily weakened.

However, our team will fill the canal with a tough, sturdy material to keep the tooth intact and secure from bacteria, which will reinforce the strength of the tooth. Depending on the tooth which has had the root canal, it will be topped with either a filling, crown or a veneer.

How long will it last?

With correct dental care, a root canal can remain undisturbed in your mouth for the rest of your life.

Just ensure that you maintain regular home dental hygiene routines, attend dental check-ups with our team every 6 months and try to refrain from smoking and drinking. These habits can cause the gums to recede, which can cause exposure issues with the deep filling.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.