Preparing for a root canal
The nature of this particular area of endodontics leads many patients to feeling squeamish although it’s painfree and very effective. Let’s explore our root canal Edinburgh process and demystify this procedure.
Dental abscesses
Abscesses are caused when bacteria manages to find its way in between the root and the jawbone. This could be a result of trauma or a fracture running down the length of a tooth that more often is related to decay. This is the start of some cases of sensitivity, exposing the root to the environment inside the mouth and can be very uncomfortable.
It can be quite difficult for your body to naturally fight an abscess, as white blood cells cannot easily gain access to the area between the root and your bone due to the extremely low blood flow. This also significantly reduces the effectiveness of oral antibiotics, making dental abscess infections particularly challenging and a significant risk for a bone infection if the abscess invades bone tissue.
What is a root canal like?
A root canal Edinburgh with our dental practice gives direct access to the abscess from inside of the tooth for our team. It starts out with an access hole being drilled at the top of the affected tooth. This means we are able to see the inside of the tooth, but the hole has to be progressively widened so it can be cleaned. The hole can be the width of a human hair; at such diameters, it is simply impossible to thoroughly clean. Once it has been widened, the abscess can be drained from inside the tooth, with the area beneath the tooth filled with a sterile antiseptic. A full root filling can then take place, starting at the root of the tooth and extending through the length of the tooth to the access on the upper surface.
Will it change the way my teeth look?
Some factors can result in the alteration of teeth after a root canal. The most common but still unusual of these is colourisation, which is caused by changes in the dentine, showing through a thinning enamel.
Will the treated tooth be weaker?
Teeth that have been treated with a root canal are not noticeably weaker than any of their fellow untreated teeth; the root can become permanently damaged and the tooth may lose sensation. But this is all fine and normal so don’t worry! The tooth may be less responsive to temperature and sometimes does not ‘feel’ like the other teeth. This is because there is no sensation in that particular area; it may receive damage or very severe encroachment from cavities without any symptoms, resulting in late treatment. If you have had a root canal it is particularly important that you attend your 6 month check-ups with us. This is not because the tooth is weaker than your natural teeth, but is linked to it being more vulnerable because of the reduced sensation.
Emergency treatment
A root canal Edinburgh is not strictly considered an emergency procedure, but resolving abscesses is. They are treated very seriously at our practice. The extreme discomfort can easily evolve into a potentially life-threatening situation if the abscess bursts into the bloodstream. If you are beginning to show symptoms of sepsis please contact emergency services immediately.