Root canal treatment in Mt Roskill
Root canal treatment is a highly successful way to save a badly infected or damaged tooth and prevent the need for extraction. At Thompson Dental on Mt Albert Road in Mt Roskill, Auckland, root canal treatment is performed using modern techniques in a warm and caring environment where patients are treated like family.
Saving a natural tooth is often the best long-term option as it helps maintain normal chewing function, appearance, and jawbone health.
Signs you may need a root canal
You may require root canal treatment if you experience:
- Severe or persistent toothache
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swelling around the tooth or gums
- A darkened or discoloured tooth
- A dental abscess or recurring gum swelling
Early treatment can help prevent infection from spreading and improve the chances of saving the tooth.
What causes a root canal infection?
Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called dental pulp that contains nerves and blood vessels. When this tissue becomes infected or damaged, root canal treatment may be needed to save the tooth.
Common causes include:
- Deep tooth decay
- Large cavities
- Cracked or fractured teeth
- Dental trauma
- Severe tooth wear
- Untreated dental infections
Early treatment can often prevent the infection from spreading and improve the chances of saving your natural tooth.
Benefits of root canal treatment
Root canal treatment can help:
- Save your natural tooth
- Eliminate infection and discomfort
- Restore normal chewing function
- Maintain your natural appearance
- Preserve jawbone structure
- Protect neighbouring teeth from excessive wear or movement
What happens during a root canal procedure?
Root canal treatment is designed to remove bacteria from the infected root canal system while preserving the natural tooth.
The procedure typically involves:
- Taking dental X-rays to assess the extent of the infection.
- Removing infected or inflamed dental pulp.
- Carefully cleaning and disinfecting the root canals.
- Filling and sealing the canals to help prevent reinfection.
- Restoring and protecting the tooth, often with a dental crown.
The exact treatment plan will depend on the condition of the tooth and the extent of the infection.
Root Canal FAQs
With modern technology there is little to no pain because your dentist will use local aneasthetic to numb your tooth and gums so you’re comfortable during the procedure. Its typically similar to having a deep filling, it just takes a little longer. Our dentists are renowned for their gentle dentistry. We also offer sedation dentistry for patients who experience dental anxiety.
A root canal typically requires one or two appointments to complete. If the tooth is badly infected a third appointment may be necessary. Usually the first appointment is around 90 minutes and another appointment of 30 minutes is necessary to fit the crown.
Living with nerve damage can be excruciatingly painful and worth the relief from a relatively straight forward procedure. More concerning is that untreated root canal infections can spread beyond the tooth to the jaw, the face, and even into the bloodstream.
When a tooth can be saved dentists will opt for root canal over tooth extraction for three reasons.
- Root canals have better success rates than tooth extractions.
- Keeping your natural tooth will maintain your natural smile.
- Saving your tooth in the jaw preserves the integrity of your jawbone.
- The natural tooth eliminates the need for an artificial restoration that is necessary to maintain the spacing of surrounding teeth after an extraction.