Saving troublesome teeth
When the dentist announces that the treatment required is root canal in Edinburgh patients tend to cringe. This is one of those procedures that a patient does not want to hear is necessary and conjures up all sorts of painful and messy thoughts. These days however there are specialists in the field who concentrate on only this particular procedure. The modern equipment used nowadays together with the training and experience of the current crop of professionals makes for a stress free, relaxed and comfortable experience. Their motivation is to save your teeth, even those that prove to be troublesome and require complex treatment. In the past it was expected that adults over 65 would end up with dentures but today three-quarters of adults over the age of 65 manage to keep at least half of their natural teeth.
Dentist or Endodontist
Normally a dentist will take a series of x-rays of your mouth especially the tooth area that is infected. This is the stage when they will be able to get a clear understanding of the extent of the damage to the tooth and the root canal. The dentist will now make a decision whether he can manage the procedure or if he needs to refer the patient to someone more expert like an endodontist.
What’s involved in this treatment
Normally this procedure is undertaken under a local anaesthetic, in extreme circumstances when the tooth has already died, it may be unnecessary to administer a local anaesthetic. To perform a root canal in Edinburgh once the local anaesthetic has been administered, the endodontist will surround the infected tooth with a rubber sheet, known as a dam, which ensures that the tooth stays dry and that you do not breath in any chemicals. They will then proceed to open the tooth through the crown at the top so that the soft tissue, referred to as the pulp, at the centre of the tooth is exposed. All the infected pulp is then removed as well as any other infection, such as pus from any abscess. The canal is normally quite narrow which makes working on it quite difficult so it is usually necessary to enlarge the canal. This part of the procedure can take several hours depending on the degree of infection. There may be a need to put a small amount of medicine in, to kill any bacteria, before applying the temporary filling. The patient will need to return on an agreed next appointment to complete the procedure. At the next visit, the temporary filling will be removed and the filling is inserted, this seals the tooth preventing any further infection. In some cases you may require a crown but the endodontist will advise if this is necessary.
What is the success rate
This form of treatment is highly successful in saving teeth and eliminating infection and if you keep your teeth healthy by regular cleaning your treated tooth is expected to last a long time. If an infection does return the treatment can be repeated but having it return is a rare occurrence. You are in control of your treated tooth and how long it survives depends on how much of the original tooth remains, what biting forces you exert on the tooth and how well you look after your teeth.