Relief with root canals

When facing a new procedure, which is usually under duress and significant discomfort in the case of a root canal Edinburgh treatment, it is good to be fully informed. So here’s a brief FAQ so you know what to expect from this kind of endodontic treatment at our clinic.

What is the role of endodontic treatment? root-canal-edinburgh

The primary role of any root canal Edinburgh treatment is to resolve abscesses that form under the tooth between its root, its socket and the jawbone. If you’ve had the experience of a dental abscess or are currently experiencing one they are an extremely unpleasant, distracting condition, often preventing a patient from eating, sleeping or even being capable of concentrating. So in sight of all this, it is best to get them treated as soon as you can at our practice.

Does root treatment hurt?

The process of treating the teeth is not inherently painful; the damage that occurs to an infected tooth from an abscess itself or an infection in the pulp is significantly worse than any form of treatment. We always use local anaesthetic and that is usually sufficient. Extra care has to be taken for patients with dental aversions who would find most dental procedures traumatic. The extended period (often more than an hour) to carry out root cleaning and widering can make it particularly challenging for them and the use of additional calmatives and alternative methods of sedation is not uncommon.

Do root fillings work?

Endodontic treatment is heavily dependent on the skill of the practitioner. There are no two identical roots, their branch structures can become very complicated, intertwined and compacted. So, directly widening, cleaning the root canal and fully draining the abscess underneath is extremely important. If they do fail, it is usually because a small pocket of bacteria has been left and in time will develop into a new abscess.

Are there other treatment options?

An additional treatment option before the widespread use of root canal Edinburgh treatment was extraction and is still considered the last ditch solution for continued recurring abscesses. But we believe it should not be considered as the first option. Unfortunately, many anxious patients aim towards extraction over endodontic treatment, as it is often seen as less invasive. It is certainly quicker but a tooth treated with endodontics can function for 8 to 10 years.
Cases where root complexity does not permit treatment through the tooth itself may initiate the option of apicectomy, where the tips of the roots are removed horizontally through an incision made in the gums approaching them side on. This allows the root complexity to be avoided, but this is a far more significant and invasive procedure, resulting in disrupting gum tissue and stitches.
Whichever direction you choose to go with your treatment, it is preferable to no treatment at all. There are those who, due to concerns about dentistry in general, will put off treatment as long as possible in the hope that the issue may resolve itself. This is unlikely to be the best case scenario; an abscess will displace the tooth above it and drain into the mouth, resulting in the loss of the tooth at least. Safe resolution of the abscess is best as, if the abscess bursts into the bloodstream or the infection continues into the jawbone, the complications can be very significant and require hospital admission.
Posted on 03 March 2022 by Edinburgh Endodontist