If a tooth is painful but restorable (i.e. not too badly damaged), then endodontic (root canal) treatment is usually the treatment of choice to avoid extraction. In the majority of cases, such treatment quickly resolves the often debilitating toothache that arises from an infected or inflamed tooth.
The process of locating and treating the root canals inside the tooth can be difficult and so seeing an endodontist with further training and experience is often indicated to perform more complex cases.
Using high power magnification loupes or the operating microscope, the endodontist will be able to better visualise the tiny root canals deep inside the tooth and use the latest techniques to clean, disinfect and then fill them ensuring the best possible outcome.
Once root canal treatment is complete, you may return to your dentist for the filling or crown to complete the restoration of the tooth or it can be done as part of your treatment with us.
The biggest misconception amongst patients is that root canal treatment is painful - with effective local anaesthesia the procedure is usually completely pain free. It can sometimes be time consuming though, a difficult molar tooth with four separate root canals might take two appointments and a little over two hours to complete in total.
