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What if my tooth is already root filled
and I get another infection?
Root canal treatment is usually very successful.
However, if the infection comes back, the treatment
can sometimes be repeated. During retreatment, the
dentist will reopen your tooth and remove the filling
material that was placed in the root canals during the
first procedure. The dentist then carefully examines the
tooth, looking for additional canals or new infection.
Once clean the roots are then refilled and sealed with a
permanent filling.
Rubber Dam (1), Cleaning File (2) and the Abscess (3)
1
2
3
Root canal treatment has the
reputation of being a really
unpleasant and a painful procedure.
Actually, the procedure itself is no more
painful than having a filling placed as
Dr Ashok Jakhu explains ...
Usually, a local anaesthetic is used and it should feel no
different to having an ordinary filling done, but if you
feel nervous or anxious dental sedation can be used to
help relax you during treatment.
At Wycherely’s dental practice we carry out simple and
complex root canal treatment although some root
canal procedures may still need to be referred to an
endodontic specialist.
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is needed when the blood or
nerve supply of the tooth is infected through decay or
injury. In some cases, your tooth could darken in colour,
youmay get a bad taste or swelling in themouth which
could mean that the nerve inside the tooth has died (or
is dying).
Why is root canal treatment needed?
If the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected, this may
eventually lead to an abscess. An abscess is an area of
infection which can cause swelling around the root of
the tooth, if left this can lead to tooth loss.The symptoms
of an abscess can range from a dull ache to severe pain
and the tooth may be tender when you bite.
What does it involve?
Local anaesthetic is used to numb the tooth and a
rubber dam is used to keep the tooth dry and free of
saliva. A rubber dam is a piece of rubber that fits over
the tooth and isolates it fromthe rest of themouth. After
the dentist removes all of the decay and bacteria, he will
use files to clean out the canals (roots) of the tooth.
Root canal files are small instruments that increase in
diameter and fit down into the canals enabling the
dentist to remove the nerve. Once the tooth is clean, the
dentist will fill the canals with a rubber filling material
called gutta percha, a permanent filling is then placed
on the top to seal the tooth.
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FEBRUARY 2016