The Importance of Root Canal Treatment at Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure, also known as endodontics, which is used to treat an infection or inflammation of the nerve or pulp in the tooth. Root canal treatment can help to save a tooth, avoiding extraction by removing the damaged part of the tooth. At Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice, our dedicated dentists carry out root canals, using their knowledge and experience to complete the procedure effectively and as comfortably as possible. A root canal allows the dentist to get inside your damaged tooth to repair the problem so that it doesn’t need to be removed.
Why Might You Need a Root Canal?
There are several reasons you might need to have a root canal procedure. A tooth is made up of three main parts, which are the enamel, the dentine and the pulp. The pulp is made of soft tissue which contains nerves and blood vessels, and when it becomes infected, the pulp will begin to die. This can happen when there is a cavity or the tooth is damaged and the pulp is exposed to bacteria. When this happens, it’s important to address it quickly, or the pulp dying could lead to the loss of the tooth. Infected root canals can lead to abscesses if they aren’t treated, so it’s important to perform a root canal procedure before this can happen.
Is It Painful to Have a Root Canal Procedure?
The idea of a root canal procedure often worries people, especially if they have had bad experiences at the dentist in the past. However, there’s no need to worry about having root canal treatment. It’s a fairly simple procedure that is carried out by expert dentists, and it’s not painful. Root canal treatment is usually carried out with the use of local anaesthetic, which numbs the treatment area. The dentist won’t begin the treatment until the anaesthetic has taken effect. When the treatment is being carried out, you might feel pressure, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Book Your Root Canal Appointment
Contact Woodbridge Dental today if you have any queries about the dental treatments that we provide. Our opening hours are 8.00 A.M. until 6.00 P.M., Monday – Friday, and 8.00 A.M. until 3.00 P.M. on Saturdays. You can call us on 01483 568 584. Alternatively, you can use our easy online booking service or send an email to reception@woodbridgedental.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Click here to find out more about our offers and new patient deals.
Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
To diagnose a problem with your tooth and decide whether root canal treatment is needed, the first step is an examination by a dentist. When you see the dentist, they will examine your teeth visually and also take X-rays so that they can see more of your teeth. Sometimes, you might not realise that you could be in need of root canal treatment. Not all pulp infections cause pain, so they issue might be picked up by an X-ray, without you realising that the problem is there. However, once the problem has been diagnosed, the next step is to consider the best treatment.
Root canal treatment is relatively straightforward. A temporary filling is used after the treatment, which is then replaced by a permanent crown at a later appointment. Regular dental checkups will ensure that if you need root canal treatment, it can be performed as soon as possible to avoid losing a tooth.
Root Canal Procedure
A root canal procedure isn’t too difficult to understand, and it’s usually quick to carry out too. The aim of the treatment is to remove the infected pulp from the root canal. The tooth can then be filled and a crown put in place to protect it. First, the dentist will inject a local anaesthetic to numb the treatment area so that you won’t feel any pain. Using a rubber dam, the tooth can be isolated to help keep it dry and sterile while the treatment is being carried out.
The first step is then to drill a hole into the pulp chamber of the tooth. The dentist will then clean and widen the root canals of the tooth using fine dental instruments. After thoroughly cleaning the root canals, they can then be filled so that further infection can’t occur in the future. The tooth is filled using a rubber filling, and a temporary filling is put in place to protect the tooth. Finally, a permanent crown is placed to seal and protect the tooth.
Recovering from root canal treatment is usually simple too. Some people might require a follow-up appointment after the initial treatment, but not everybody needs to do this. There can be a small amount of pain after the treatment, but this is easily treated with over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Your tooth should feel better within a few days, although it might be sensitive for a few weeks.
After root canal treatment it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene and to continue to see your dentist regularly. This will help to prevent any further problems with your other teeth and to help protect the repaired tooth. If you take care of it, it can last a lifetime, just like your other teeth are designed to do.
Root Canal Cost
The cost of root canal treatment depends on which tooth is being treated. Larger teeth with more root canals are slightly more complicated to work on. Our prices at Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice are designed to reflect how complicated it is to work on different teeth. We price root canal treatment based on what type of tooth requires treatment.
Other factors can sometimes affect the price of root canal treatment, such as re-treatment of past root canal work or the need to extract and replace a tooth. Remember to consider the cost of any other treatment that you might require if you have a root canal treatment. When you visit us, you can discuss the cost of your treatment in more detail before having your root canal procedure or deciding which treatment is right for you.
If you want to know more about the cost of root canal treatment, simply get in touch to ask what you need to know. You can also talk about your treatment options and costs when you come for a consultation with us.
Visit Us at Our Convenient Guildford Location:
Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice
49A Woodbridge Hill
Guildford, GU2 9ZD
Call us today: 01483 568584
Opening Days: Monday to Saturday