Root Canal
Root Canal Therapy at East Adelaide Dental Studio
Endodontic therapy (root canal treatment) is a special procedure we use at East Adelaide Dental Studio to help retain badly damaged or infected teeth. Rather than extracting a problematic tooth, our dentists prefers the more conservative option of retaining your natural teeth.
Thanks to root canal therapy, we can treat badly infected teeth so that they’re functional for several more years. And contrary to what you’ve probably heard about the procedure, getting endodontic treatment is easier than ever.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
During a root canal, we remove the infected nerves inside of your tooth, medicate the hollow chamber left behind, then seal it off to prevent a recurring infection. This type of treatment is necessary when bacteria have reached the nerve of a tooth.
How can you tell if your tooth’s nerve is compromised? Watch for symptoms like:
- An abscess (pimple) on the gums
- Tooth discoloration or darkening
- Pain when you bite or chew
- Sensitivity to heat
- A severe toothache
- Evidence of a cracked tooth
- Broken, large filling
We’ll take an X-ray of your tooth to determine the extent of the damage and pinpoint the source of your infection.
What to Expect
Your endodontic appointment will be like any other routine procedure. First, we’ll numb the tooth to ensure you’re comfortable. If needed, an analgesia or sedation option is also available to help you relax. If there’s a severe infection, we may need you to take an antibiotic leading up to the visit (swelling can make it difficult for anaesthetic to work correctly).
After your tooth is numb, we’ll create an opening in the crown to access your nerve canal. The nerve is removed, chamber medicated and sealed, then a crown is placed over your tooth. The crown will protect the brittle and non-vital tooth, so that it doesn’t chip from everyday wear.
Since our office is equipped with state-of-the-art CEREC technology, we’re able to complete your crown on the same day instead of scheduling you to come back two weeks later. However, sometimes abscessed teeth need to be left alone for a short period of time for the infection to fully resolve after treatment. If that’s the case, we’ll put a temporary crown over your tooth until it’s time for a more permanent restoration.
