Few dental treatments carry as much unnecessary fear as root canal treatment. The reputation doesn’t quite match reality: when performed with proper anaesthesia, most patients find the experience far more manageable than they expected. Here’s what’s actually involved.
Why root canal treatment is needed
Root canal treatment is used to save a tooth that’s become infected or badly decayed, usually after bacteria have reached the inner pulp of the tooth. Left untreated, this can lead to an abscess or further damage, and in some cases the tooth may no longer be able to be saved at all. When there’s enough healthy tooth structure remaining, root canal treatment aims to clear the infection and preserve the tooth rather than removing it.
What happens during the procedure
Before starting, your dentist will assess the tooth and surrounding area to understand what’s going on. The treatment itself is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the area is numbed beforehand: many patients report feeling little to no discomfort during the appointment itself.
Broadly, the procedure involves:
- Cleaning out the infected or damaged pulp from inside the tooth
- Placing a protective dam around the tooth to keep the area clean during treatment
- Shaping the inside of the canal so it can be filled properly
- Sealing the canal with a biocompatible filling material to help prevent reinfection
- Fitting a crown over the tooth to restore its strength and function
What to expect afterwards
Because the nerve tissue has been removed, you generally won’t feel sensitivity to hot or cold in that tooth afterwards. Your bite may feel slightly different for a short while as you adjust to the new crown, and some mild soreness is common in the days following treatment: your dentist will let you know how to manage this if needed. Good oral hygiene and regular check-ups afterwards help keep both the crown and the treated tooth in good shape.
Why not just remove the tooth?
Wherever possible, dentistry aims to preserve your natural teeth rather than replace them. Extracting a tooth can lead to neighbouring teeth shifting out of position over time, which may affect your bite and create further complications down the line. Root canal treatment allows the tooth to keep functioning much as it did before, without disrupting the rest of your smile.
If extraction does end up being the right path for a particular tooth, there are still good options afterwards, like dental implants, to help maintain the structure of your mouth.
If you’re in pain, or you’ve been told you might need root canal treatment, you don’t have to sit with the worry about what it involves. Get in touch with our Quakers Hill team and we’ll explain what we find, what we’d recommend, and what it will cost before anything starts. Feel better about making a decision.
