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June 25, 2024
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June 27, 2024Root Canal Treatments
Pain from toothaches can be excruciating and disturb sleep. When this happens, most of the time, the nerve within the tooth is already affected and needs to be treated as an alternative to removal. Other indications are discoloured teeth, presence of sinus/ pus tracts/ bubbles or pimples in the gum.
Root canal treatment is a procedure that aims to save the tooth. Root canal treatment is done by removing the pulp (innermost part of the tooth containing nerve, blood vessels and connective tissues), cleaning the root canals and filling them with a biocompatible material. The tooth is then sealed and protected with a crown to restore its function and appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect during my first visit for consultation?
Our dentists will first get to know you and understand your concerns and expectations. They will then perform a detailed assessment and examination. They will need to take focused and current xray(s) to better plan. They will then discuss with you about the techniques of proposed treatments and costs. You are able to ask them the doubts and questions you might have. When possible, we will try to proceed with treatment immediately after.
How many visits does this involve?
It generally takes 2-4 visits depending on complexity.
What precautions do the team take?
We perform root canal treatments under rubber dam isolation to prevent saliva infiltration into the cleaned canals which decreases the effectiveness of the treatment. We will also ensure that a non-latex isolation dam is used if you are allergic to latex.
Is the treatment painful?
We place good topical anaesthetic gel before giving the local anaesthesia and are consciously gentle throughout. There will still be a small “pinch” while local anaesthesia is placed but once the anaesthesia has started working, the procedures should be relatively pain-free. The experience differs from person to person but our specialists and dentists will advise you prior and are conscious of any changes or cues you give during the procedure. Post-operatively, you might experience some to none down-time (pain and swelling). Pain is usually well controlled with the painkillers, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories we prescribe after.
What is the long-term success rate?
Many studies show that there is more than 97% long-term success rate for root canal treatment. Failures sometimes happen if there are new infections or a reactivation of an old infection. It is generally treated by redoing the root canal treatment, surgical treatment or it might require a removal and replacement.
