It is common after deep fillings, crown work and bridgework, and performed after a dental abscess or irreversible toothache to relieve pain.
The treatment involves entering the tooth and removing the infected pulp tissue inside, before reshaping and filling the root canals and repairing the tooth. Root canal treatment is necessary after decay or trauma that cause the pulp to be exposed and become infected. We want to do all we can to save and protect natural teeth. Root canal treatment is the best option for your overall oral health and prevents any costly treatment needed to replace a missing tooth.
Root canal treatment can be completed in either one visit or multiple visits, depending on the complexity. It is an unpredictable treatment which requires great skill. At Aesthetique Dental Care, our dental practitioners have performed root canal treatment thousands of times and have many years of experience.
If your regular dentist is performing your root canal treatment, generally they will first access the root canal system and remove the infected pulp. Local anaesthetic is used to reduce discomfort during this appointment. The root canal is cleaned and temporarily filled. At a second visit the dentist will remove the temporary filling and start precisely shaping and refilling the tooth and root canal. Following this, the tooth is rebuilt and restored. A root canal can cause a tooth to become weakened and discoloured so you may require a crown over the tooth following your root canal procedure.
If the dentist recommends so, you may be referred in house to our dentist who has a special interest in endodontics and treats our more complex root canals. You will be booked in for one full appointment where she will access the root, remove the infected pulp, clean the canal, and reshape and fill the tooth in one sitting. Our dentist is very experienced in treating root canals of all complexities, and her knowledge, experience and patience will help you feel informed and reassured. She may then refer you to your regular dentist for a crown to protect the treated tooth.
Yes, when properly performed by an experienced dental professional, root canal treatment is safe, effective and eliminates pain.
Root canal treatment has an unfair reputation for being painful. In fact, it involves little or no pain or discomfort, especially when performed by a qualified and experienced dental professional. Often, patients experience an overwhelming sense of relief as the pain they have been suffering from is eliminated.
If the tooth is successfully treated and properly restored with a crown, it can last for many years, if not a lifetime. It is important to keep up with your normal oral hygiene routine and attend regular dental check-ups and hygiene appointments so your dentist can keep an eye on your treated tooth and overall oral health.
The alternative to root canal treatment is to remove the infected tooth. We will do all we can to avoid this. A missing tooth can cause problems with chewing, or affect your facial structure and appearance of your cheeks and jaw. Removing a tooth could also incur further expense, with the costs involved in fitting a denture, bridge or implant as a replacement.
Yes, known as retreatment, the procedure involves repeating the root canal treatment. The existing filling material is removed and the root canals cleaned and filled again. Root canal treatment may need to be repeated if the treated tooth suffers a fracture, a cavity develops or it becomes reinfected.
Root canal treatment can occasionally fail, at any point following the procedure. Failure is usually due to a fracture, new decay becoming present or the restoration (crown or bridge) becoming loose or becoming damaged. However, most treated teeth last for many years without any issues.
Aesthetique Dental Care 21 Wharf Street, The Calls Leeds West Yorkshire LS2 7EQ
We’re in the heart of Leeds - accessed by bus and train and have convenient on street parking.
Dental Design | Site last updated: December 2023