1. What is root canal treatment?

The root canal system of the tooth extends from the crown (top of the tooth) to the end of the root (bottom of the tooth) and contains the pulp. Pulp is the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth. Root canal treatment, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘root canal’, is the removal of infected or inflamed pulp.

2. When is root canal treatment needed?

You may have visited the dental practitioner if you had symptoms of a pulp infection such as:

• Pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food or drink
• Pain when biting or chewing
• A loose tooth
• Swelling of the gum near the infected tooth
• Pus oozing from around the infected tooth
• Facial swelling
• The tooth getting darker in colour.

An x-ray of your tooth may show the cause of pain or infection. Antibiotics are not effective in treating root canal infections. The two treatment options are removing the tooth or having a root canal treatment.

3. What are the benefits of root canal treatment?

Saving your tooth with a root canal has the benefits of:

• A better bite and more efficient chewing
• Keeping your natural teeth
• Protecting your other teeth from wear and tear.

4. What happens during root canal treatment?

• Your dental practitioner will take x-rays of the tooth and the area around it.
• The tooth area will usually be numbed with a local anaesthetic.
• Your tooth may then be covered with a small rubber sheet that isolates the tooth being treated from the rest of the mouth.
• All tooth decay will be removed.
• The dental practitioner will gain access to the pulp chamber through the top part of the tooth. The pulp will be removed from the crown and roots. The root canals are cleaned and completely filled with a natural latex material.
• The tooth is sealed with a filling or a crown. A crown completely covers the real tooth.
• A root canal may take several hours and/or be completed over several appointments.