Root Canal Treatment
Repairing and protecting your teeth
Know how
About Root Canal Treatment
A root canal is an advanced treatment option for an infection at the centre of a tooth. We use it to save teeth that might otherwise have to be entirely removed as a result of trauma from an impact or decay. At Bethcar our highly experienced team is fully qualified in endodontics (the specialist study of this area of the tooth), so we can provide a complete treatment within our practice to repair and protect your teeth.
Treatment Benefits
Benefits Of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is designed to remove infection from a damaged tooth to reduce long-term pain and to prevent any further damage to your teeth, gums and jaw. If left untreated, a tooth infection can cause severe damage to your dental and overall health.
Benefits of dental canal treatment include:
Improves tooth appearance
By treating the infected tooth, we also preserve the aesthetics of your teeth. In most circumstances we should be able to save the tooth, thereby restoring your smile and preventing any further tooth loss resulting from the spread of infection.
Relieves Discomfort
A tooth that requires root canal treatment can be extremely uncomfortable or painful, limiting your ability to eat and drink as usual. By repairing the tooth, and with it, we can stop it from hurting as well.
Safeguards other teeth
An infection or abscess left untreated can cause severe damage to neighbouring teeth as well as your wide health and wellbeing. A root canal can help prevent infection from spreading to neighbouring teeth, and it helps prevent jawbone degeneration resulting from infection.
Why Choose Us
We Want What’s Best For You
Our experts know that tooth infections are an unpleasant and painful. We want to relieve you of your discomfort as soon as possible.
Root canal treatment at Bethcar is a comfortable and pain-free experience, as we use cutting-edge technology for the best possible treatment outcomes.
A few things you may like to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a root canal?
Root canal treatment is a more invasive treatment than some, with a high success rate for cleaning an infection at the centre of the tooth. Untreated, this kind of infection can be extremely painful and can lead to the loss of the tooth as well as damage to surrounding teeth and gums.
What is involved in a root canal?
If you suspect there might be damage to your tooth and we determine that you need root canal treatment, we will book you in either immediately or as soon as possible to prevent the damage from increasing or any pain from getting worse. We will determine whether you need root canal treatment by doing a dental X-ray to show where the pulp of the tooth has been damaged and become infected. Your treatment will usually be carried out over two separate appointments on different days.
Appointment 1
During the first appointment we will administer a local anaesthetic to numb the area, so you won’t feel anything during the procedure. We will then use a drill to open the top of the tooth and access the centre where we will remove any infected pulp. If there is a dental abscess, we will drain this at the same time. We will then clean the area and prepare it for the filling. This can take a number of hours and sometimes requires multiple visits. The time the treatment takes depends on the tooth that has been damaged. If the treatment requires further appointments we will give you medication to take home to keep the area clean. We then seal the tooth with a temporary filling.
Appointment 2
At your second appointment we will remove the temporary filling and replace it with a permanent filling. We then seal the tooth to prevent reinfection and to restore your teeth to their usual, healthy appearance. In some instances we may suggest a crown to further protect the tooth.
Sometimes the tooth may darken, especially if it has died as a result of an injury. If this happens, we can offer advice and support on how to treat discolouration.
Is root canal treatment right for me?
How do you know if you need a root canal? Root canal treatment is needed if a damaged tooth has resulted in a bacterial infection and the pulp becomes inflamed. The symptoms of a pulp infection can vary, but they typically manifest as pain and sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold substances.
Some of the most common signs you may need root canal treatment include:
- Persistent pain
- A chipped or cracked tooth
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold food and drink
- The gum area is swollen
- Dark discolouration of the tooth
As there is no removal of the tooth or tooth material involved in composite bonding there’s no need for an anaesthetic. However, if you are a nervous patient we can talk to you about sedative options if necessary.
We start by selecting the right shade of composite material to match your teeth. We then prepare the surface of the tooth to attach the resin. Next, we apply the composite resin to the tooth and shape it as required. The material is hardened using an ultraviolet light, and finally we polish the tooth. For one tooth the process can take as little as 45-minutes.