Root Canal Treatment

The example above is of a high-quality root canal undertaken by Dr Raj Koner.

Root Canal Treatment is an important dental procedure to help relieve toothache and save your teeth. Dr Raj Koner is very skilled and experienced in root canal treatment, and many patients come to Church Lane Dental to be treated by him.

1. Why does a tooth require root canal treatment?

The most common reason is pain from an irreversibly damaged, inflamed ‘nerve’ (pulp) or tooth abscess. Trauma can similarly cause ‘nerve’ (pulp) damage. Unfortunately, pulp death sometimes occurs painlessly and can eventually lead to a persistent infection.

2. Is treatment painful?

Treatments are performed under local anaesthetic, and with current anaesthetics should be painless. It is not unusual, however, for the tooth to be tender for two or three days after. Usually, painkillers, such as paracetamol are good enough to relieve any discomfort.

3. What is involved in root canal treatment?

The Dentist must open the tooth and find one or more root canals. These contain the pulp remnants. The remnants are removed, and the canals cleaned and disinfected. The resultant empty space is then sealed to prevent further ingress of contaminated/infected material.

4. My tooth feels OK after antibiotics. Do I really need root canal treatment?

If you plan to keep the long tooth term, then the answer is yes. Antibiotics can help temporarily, but they cannot kill bacteria inside the tooth. The cause of the problem therefore persists.

5. Why is root canal treatment more expensive than having a tooth out?

Root canal treatment requires the use of expensive instruments called files. Loupes and magnification may also be needed to give an excellent result.

Furthermore, root canal takes longer than extraction, and to achieve success, the dentist must find and negotiate all the canals, remove pulp remnants and leave the disinfectant in the tooth for adequate time. Unfortunately, speeding up the process can compromise the outcome.

6. Will my tooth need a crown?

After a root canal, some teeth can need protection in the form of a crown. This crown protects the tooth against fracture and improves the long term prognosis for the tooth.

Please give us a call on 01785 252514 / 07910 394043 or E-mail us on info@churchlanedentalstafford.co.uk if you require help with root canal treatment.