Advanced, untreated decay that has spread deep into the pulp of your tooth can cause permanent and irreversible damage to the nerve- not to mention a very painful and persistent toothache!
If this ‘pulpitis’ or inflammation of the pulp is caught early enough there is a chance it can be treated with a simple filling. However, if the pulpitis is severe, or it has caused an abscess, we may need to remove the pulp tissue and disinfect the root canal. This is called a root canal treatment (or endodontics) and if it’s not carried out you may be at risk of losing the tooth entirely.
During the root canal therapy, we will remove the infected material from the root before cleaning and sealing the tooth to prevent further damage.
We then restore the damaged tooth with either a filling or crown.
I was petrified of prior dentists..I have been here 15 odd years and he is fantastic with me.. He knows how to calm me and explains everything and if I need extra freeze no problem..
Jilly
When a root canal is done to the high standards set by William Street Dental you can rest assured your root canal will last a very long time. And if a crown is used to protect your damaged tooth it will be more resistant to cracks and fractures. Finally, if you practice good oral hygiene, there’s no reason your root canal won’t last many years, if not a lifetime. When compared to the price of extracting a tooth and replacing it with a bridge or implant, the cost of a root canal is very competitive.
We’re very conscious of our patient’s comfort and we’re trained in the most up-to-date technologies and techniques to reduce the risk of any pain. We also use local anaesthesia and, in cases where the pulp is highly inflamed, your dentist may settle the tooth with a sedative dressing, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs before beginning the procedure.
When the treatment is complete your tooth will look and feel much better but we highly recommend restoring the affected tooth with a crown, which will provide extra support and prevent the tooth from breaking or cracking in the future.
It depends on the details of the procedure and the type of tooth involved but usually a root canal takes about 1-2 hours. The treatment itself is often done in one visit though sometimes a second appointment may be needed.
William Street Dental
45 William Street
Portadown
BT62 3NX
