Gold Coast root canal therapy

What is a root canal?

Root canal therapy involves the removal of a tooth’s pulp when it is severely infected or diseased in order to save and preserve the function of your natural tooth.

The tooth pulp refers to the tissue containing nerves and blood vessels found within the centre of each tooth. Causes of pulp disease include cracked teeth, deep cavities or decay, and trauma or injury (e.g., being knocked in the tooth). If left untreated, there is a potential for extremely painful dental abscesses (pus collections) to form, discomfort from gum swelling, and the eventual loss of the tooth. It is always best to save a natural tooth from permanent loss rather than using a prosthetic.

Some of the common signs and symptoms that might indicate you may need a root canal can include:

• severe toothache or sharp pain (i.e. especially when biting down)
• gum swelling
• sensitivity or discomfort to extreme temperatures in the mouth
• darkening or discolouration of the affected tooth

Your dentist may initially prescribe you analgesia (pain medication) and antibiotics to curb your discomfort and settle the infection in the short term. However, the underlying issue will persist until the root cause (i.e. the inflamed, dying nerve) is removed via root canal treatment.

The treatment itself is conducted over two to three appointments. The first step involves removing the diseased pulp and cleaning the remaining space left behind (the root canal). The canal is then disinfected before being sealed off with a temporary medication to relieve pain and kill off the infection. Once pain-free, the temporary filling and medication are cleaned out again and permanently sealed to restore the tooth