Root Canal Therapy
Also known by the name endodontics, Pathway Dental perform root canal therapy when there is a problem at the centre of a tooth (the root canal). If you have a very sore tooth, come and see one of our gentle and experienced dentists.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy may be required when:
- you require a filling
- you have decaying/rotting teeth
- you have teeth that have become damaged as a result of physical trauma.
Most people know when a root canal is necessary because of the pain and discomfort experienced.
Why Root Canals become a problem
When bacteria gets into the dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, the bacteria kills the pulp and breeds more bacteria. Infection sets in and before long an abscess will occur, as well as a very painful and long term swelling. Sadly, you will definitely feel the pain that requires root canal therapy!
The Different Parts of a Tooth
The thought of a root canal can seem rather scary to some people. At Pathway Dental, we want to make your visit as pleasant an experience as possible. We think that knowing what is happening and why can help take away some of the “scariness” associated with going to the dentist.
Understanding root canal therapy begins with knowing what the components of a tooth are:
- the top of the tooth is known as the crown.
- the enamel is the hard outer coating of the tooth.
- under the enamel is the dentine. It supports the work of the enamel and helps form the tooth.
- then you have the root of the tooth, which is inside the crown and should be hidden from view! It holds the tooth in place.
- the cementum is the armour of the root, and it surrounds the dental pulp, which is at the very centre of the tooth.
The root canal is completely filled with dental pulp. A tooth can have more than one root canal, depending on the type of tooth.
Root canals do not have to be the stuff of nightmares. Call us today and schedule a consultation with our gentle dentists and let us ease your pain. Phone Christchurch on 03 366 8866 or make an appointment below.
How is Root Canal Therapy done?
At your first appointment, we will clean and “dress” the canal with medication to clear any infection present. The dressing needs to be left in place for a while, so a temporary filling will be put in place until the area is ready for the diseased area to be removed.
At your next appointment, after a local anaesthetic has been administered, we will remove the diseased nerve and pulp from the tooth. We then make sure all bacteria has been removed, so that no further infection can occur. Once this has been done, the root canal is filled and sealed so that the tooth can function normally. The dentists at Pathway Dental do not like seeing clients in pain, and are experts in making the experience of root canal therapy a comfortable procedure.
