Root Canal Treatment
Teeth that have suffered from too great a degree of decay to rectify with a simple preventative measure such as a filling, crown or bridge may be in need of root canal treatment.
The tooth ‘root’ composes the part of the tooth, which is positioned under the surface of the gum and is not visible to the eye when inspecting the mouth.
Within the root lies an inner ‘pulp’ that is made up of tissue and nerves which nourish the tooth.
In the event that this pulp becomes infected by decay or trauma, treatment may be necessary to avoid the further inflammation of the jaw and surrounding tissue. These occurrences can cause extreme pain if left untreated. Root canal treatment is an effective means of removing the infected pulp from the core of the tooth and therefore eliminates potential for further infection and discomfort.
The process of performing root canal treatment is carried out by using very small files to remove all incidences of infected pulp. A thorough cleaning and sterilising action is also taken within the tooth’s chamber, before the tooth is sealed. In order for the tooth to be sealed, a substance known as gutta-percha is positioned so as to prevent any further bacteria penetration.
The removal of the core part of the tooth results in an inevitable loss of overall strength and stability to the tooths composition. As a result, a crown is often employed to cover the surface of the tooth and prevent the occurrence of cracks or splitting, through which bacteria and decay can attack.
