Root canals; a guide from our dentist in Chelsea
Are you waiting to have a root canal fitted and want to know a bit more about the procedure?
At Chelsea Green Dental, our dentist in Chelsea has fitted many root canals and can assuage any concerns you may have about the procedure whilst also ensuring that it is a comfortable experience for you.
Want to know a bit more about this process before having it performed? Here, our dentist in Chelsea provides a brief guide to root canals.
Why would someone need a root canal?
There are a few reasons why someone would need to have a root canal performed.
But the main reason why our dentist in Chelsea may recommend one is to promote healing after a dental abscess. Alternatively, you may need to have a root canal performed after you have suffered blunt force trauma to one of your teeth as the root and pulp could be exposed, causing discomfort and heightening the chance of an abscess forming in the future.
How is it performed?
Firstly, our team will take x-rays of your jaw to assess your suitability for a root canal; they are typically performed if the tooth is only suffering from minor to moderate levels of decay or damage.
We then numb your gums and begin drilling down into the tooth until we reach the root and the pulp. Once the hole is established, we will sand down the edges of this canal to make room for the next stage; the removal of the infection and the pulp.
This can take up to 45 minutes and is very fiddly, but once the source of the infection is cleared, our team can begin filling the canal with a rubber-based substance known as gutta-percha.
This will add strength to the tooth and also prevent any bacteria from gaining access to the pulp.
After we have filled the canal, we will top the work with either a crown or a filling and voila! Your root canal is complete.
Advantages
There are many advantages of having a root canal versus other treatments for an abscess, such as an extraction.
The main one is the aesthetic benefits; you will not have a gap in your teeth, and before you ask, no, your tooth will not turn black!
It will also prevent secondary issues that may occur after having an extraction, such as the shrinkage of the jawbone, which can cause the surrounding teeth to become misaligned. And of course, retaining a tooth promotes better long term dental health as there is no gap to attract plaque or bacteria.
Aftercare
When at home after your root canal, the area around and below the tooth is likely to feel slightly bruised; this is normal, and should subside within a few days.
However, if you have concerns that the procedure hasn’t worked, feel free to call our team for an emergency appointment.
We may also advise certain cosmetic procedures after a root canal, such as whitening, until the entire area has healed, which can take up to 3 months.
Maintenance
As long as you maintain regular dental checkups every 6 months, your root canal should not need any maintenance and may last the rest of your life without issue.
