No patient wants to hear that they will need a root canal. The myth and history of your dental procedure are filled with horror stories that could be turned into movies.
Yet, these stories are just that. The truth is, root canals often signal the end to your pain and the beginning of your healing process. If you’ve ever had a cavity filled, then you can expect the same level of pain and discomfort—virtually none.
By coming to your community dental practice, Centre Street Dental, you can feel confident knowing you will be cared for by compassionate and gentle dentists.
Dr Greg Normoyle perform all levels of root canal therapy in the comfort of our dental clinic utilising the latest state-of-the-art rotary file systems. On rare occasions, we may need to refer the patient to a specialist endodontist for treatment.
What Are Root Canals?
Many patients are reluctantly introduced to this restorative dental procedure after they start experiencing mild tooth pain that quickly becomes severe enough to be deemed a dental emergency.
When a tooth forms a cavity that is never treated or has a crack, the hole that forms can allow bacteria in the inner part of the tooth. There are many ways a tooth can become infected, but once the nerve becomes inflamed, root canal treatments could be the only way to save the tooth.
At Centre Street Dental, we work hard to allow our patients to enjoy their natural teeth, but there are times when a tooth must be removed to prevent the infection from spreading. Dental extractions are our last-ditch effort. Root canals are the front-line in the battle to keep your teeth healthy and safe.
What Are the Signs That I Need a Root Canal?
While many dental problems are silent and go unnoticed, infected teeth are not. They are very persistent in making their presence known. The following are some symptoms to look for:
- Throbbing and excruciating tooth pain
- Sudden discolouration of the tooth
- Unusual sensitivity of the tooth
- Abnormal pain when eating or biting down
- Swollen and tender gums
- Gums that appear white
- Bleeding gums
Unlike a headache or a cramp, this is not a scenario where you can tough it out. All of these symptoms start mildly and continue to build up.
Ignoring these signs could lead to dental extraction.
What Is the Root Canal Process?
The root canal procedure involves getting rid of any infected tissue from inside the tooth, then filling it to seal the tooth and prevent bacteria from reinfecting the area. By removing any bad tissue, we can immediately end any tooth pain.
Your dentist will numb the area at the beginning of the procedure so the entire treatment will be virtually pain-free.
Once patients are entirely numb and relaxed, your dentist will be able to remove the infected pulp and nerves. Once we are satisfied that the infection is gone, we will rinse and clean the area before sealing it.
Since your root canal dentists need to remove some of the tooth structure, it can become weaker and may need to be protected by a dental crown. The dental crown covers the entire tooth down to the gum line and helps prevents the tooth from cracking.
This procedure can be complex and may require a referral to an endodontist.
If you are curious about the procedure, we welcome you to call our dental clinic to arrange an appointment.
Are You Experiencing Tooth Pain?
If you have a throbbing toothache, and live or work in the Casino area, don’t hold off—arrange an appointment when you can. Dental pain is never normal, and we can manage it immediately.
