What are root canal infections?
Root canal infections are uncomfortable, sometimes painful and detrimental to your teeth and overall well being. We at Edinburgh endodontist understand that root canal in Edinburgh may sound daunting but with early detection, you can undergo successful treatment and recovery and it will help maintain your natural teeth and prevent tooth loss. Root canal infections are infections of the dental pulp which can be found in the innermost part of your tooth. The pulp is made up of connective tissue and odontoblasts and its main function is the formation of dentin, which is an important layer of your tooth, beneath the enamel, which supports the enamel and protects the pulp.
Infections of the dental pulp can occur as a result of many different factors. Poor oral hygiene can result in many issues including tooth decay which can result in root canal infection, however, there are other problems that can cause root canal infections as well such as damaged or leaky fillings and other issues with your teeth, which may have occurred as a result of physical injury or accident and damaged the dentin then can result in bacterial infection of your dental pulp. Root canal infections have many uncomfortable symptoms and can include toothache, sensitivity, cause problems with eating such as difficulty in biting or chewing, swelling of the gums and if the infection is left untreated then it can eventually result in tooth loss. Sometimes the infection can be asymptomatic which is why regular visits to your dentist are important to help detect such issues early on before they can cause too much detriment. Speak to us at the Edinburgh endodontist to find out more about root canal in Edinburgh today.
How are root canal treatments carried out?
You may visit your dentist because of toothache, sensitivity or gum issues. This may not always mean that you have root canal problems and the dentist will carry out a full examination of your mouth to determine this and find out if a root canal in Edinburgh is the required treatment for you. An X-ray is initially carried out to check the health of your teeth, and dark spots will be looked for on the X-ray which may indicate that there are issues that have affected the bone of the jaw. More X-rays will be carried out to determine the extent of the damage and to help the dentist work out the best treatment plan for you. Rest assured that here at Edinburgh endodontist your comfort and ease is our main priority so after the procedure for the root canal in Edinburgh has been fully explained to you, you will be given a local anaesthetic to numb your tooth and surrounding gum. An access hole is drilled through the top of your tooth, and the inside of the tooth will be decontaminated using irrigation solutions with the help of tiny files to scrape out all the bacteria. Once the bacteria has been successfully removed from the tooth then the root canal can be filled using an adhesive cement, and the tooth will be sealed with either a filling or a crown. Good oral hygiene and regular checkups with your dentist will ensure that the treated tooth remains clean and healthy and will positively impact your remaining teeth too.