Endodontics Bundaberg

You may have heard all kinds of stories about the root canal treatment, however at van der Walt Dental we can ensure you that with modern dentistry, there is little to no pain.

What is root canal treatment?

The root canal treatment involves drilling a hole exposing the inside of the tooth, which allows for the infected and decayed parts of the tooth to be removed, this involves the soft centre known as the dental pulp.

Removal of the dental pulp involves the nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels.

Saving your own natural tooth where possible through a root canal treatment is important, as it functions better for chewing food over an artificial tooth. Replacing a missing tooth is also a far more costly and complex treatment than the root canal treatment.

When is root canal treatment required?

Root canal treatment is used when a tooth has become badly infected or damaged and needs saving. Teeth can become damaged or infected due to a number of different reasons, including decay, wear and tear, gum disease, damaged fillings or injuries to the tooth.

When a tooth becomes damaged, the dental pulp can become exposed, leading to bad bacteria being able to enter and multiply. The bad bacteria can lead to severe infections or even an abscess (pocket of puss).

Signs of an infected tooth pulp:

• Severe tooth ache while chewing
• Darkening appearance of the tooth
• Swollen and tender gum tissue
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts longer than the actual heat or cold
• Neck and facial swelling
• Hole in the tooth or pimple on the gum

What does root canal treatment involve?

The root canal treatment may have to be completed over multiple dental visits, it’s different for every case.

However, the treatment will begin with x-rays, so that our dentists can look at the shape of the root canals and determine where the infection is and whether it has spread to the neighbouring bone.

Prior to the treatment beginning, you will receive a local anaesthetic, which means you should feel little to no pain during the procedure.

Our dentist will drill a small hole to expose the pulp of your tooth. Next a spinning endodontic file will be inserted which will remove all the infected tissue and dead nerves inside the root canals.

Your root canals will also be washed out with a disinfectant to remove any other diseased pulp and bad bacteria.

Finally, your root canals will be filled with a permanent material and then the tooth will be sealed with a filling. You may also require a dental crown to be placed over the top to restore the function if the tooth is too badly damaged.

Does the root canal treatment hurt?

People commonly say that root canal treatment is very painful, however times have passed and with modern dental techniques and anaesthesia, our team can ensure that the procedure is close to painless.

What are the side-effects of root canal treatment?

After having a root canal treatment, you may experience little pain and discomfort, however this should pass quite quickly.

Root canal treatment in Bundaberg

If you think you may have an infected tooth, please get in contact with the dental team in Bundaberg online for more information and to book in for a consultation.