Understanding Root Canal Problems
How do root canal infections occur, and what can be done to restore the tooth when they do?
Most of our Canterbury patients probably understand that tooth decay occurs, not directly due to food residues in the mouth, but mainly due to the bacteria that feeds on it. This causes acids to be produced which break down the enamel and leaves the tooth less well protected. Sometimes, the bacteria finds its way even further into the ‘heart’ of the tooth and into the root canals where the nerves and tiny blood vessels are located. This can sometimes be extremely painful and even the most nervous dental patient is likely to call us for an emergency appointment if this happens.
Prevention is key, of course, and we will look at the causes and how to prevent root canal infections in a moment. For those who already have infected canals, we also look at the treatment that can be used to attempt to save the tooth.
What causes infections of the root canal?
Essentially, it is the same bacteria that causes tooth decay which can lead to root canal infections. Usually, any decay is detected during your six monthly check up at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic. This would then be treated with a filling, or perhaps a crown, depending on the situation. If you don’t keep regular appointments, this can give the bacteria more time to enter the canals and start to infect them.
Even six monthly check ups don’t guarantee this won’t happen to you though. Other damage to teeth such as a broken tooth or even a crack can allow bacteria to enter more quickly. This is just one of the reasons why, if you suspect any damage at all, you should have this checked as soon as possible by one of our Canterbury dentists.
General good oral health care, including regular brushing and flossing, and a tooth friendly diet is important too. These preventative measures will certainly help you to avoid this problem.
Treating root canal infections
What happens if the root canals have already become infected? In this situation a straightforward filling will not be sufficient to restore it. There are only two options available in this situation and that is either to extract the problem tooth or to have a root canal procedure. This is probably not something that patients want to hear but this is probably because they have heard the undeserved reputation that this particular treatment has and we will address that in a minute.
Firstly though, unless there are good reasons to extract the tooth, such as other significant damage, we generally recommend that you don’t have the tooth out. All of our teeth are important and losing a tooth has a number of effects. It can cause us to use other teeth for the role of the missing tooth and that can cause premature wear. The gap it leaves can cause other teeth to start to move, resulting in crooked teeth, and finally, if this happens, teeth become more difficult to clean and decay and gum disease may be more likely.
Root canal procedures
Before we discuss the actual procedure, let us first dispel the myth that a root canal procedure is extremely painful. It should not be. It is an invasive procedure that will be performed using a powerful local anaesthetic. This means that while you may experience some sensations while it is being carried out, as you would a general filling, there is no reason for you to feel pain. The likelihood is that this myth stems from a time before x-rays were widely used. This could have led to abscesses not being detected and this would have been incredibly painful. These days, x-rays are routinely taken before this procedure and any abscesses that are detected are treated before your treatment takes place.
So what does the procedure consist of? After the x-rays and anaesthetic have been dealt with, the treatment can start. The first step is for the dentist to access the tooth, usually from the top. This is done to provide access to the infected canals. The infected pulp material is then removed and the then hollow canals cleaned to help prevent any reinfection.
Unlike general fillings, where either amalgam or a white tooth filling might be used to fill the prepared cavity, a special filling material called Gutta Percha is used. This is used for a number of reasons. It is biocompatible and is well suited for this purpose. When gently heated, it moulds extremely well to the cavity and seals it very effectively, thereby minimising any risk of reinfection. It can also be seen on x-rays so that the dentist can ensure that it completely fills the canal.
A tooth treated in this way can last for many more years and has a good level of strength. We will offer advice on its aftercare when you come for the procedure. If you still feel concerned about this, or any other treatment, our team of experienced Canterbury dentists will be happy to talk to you about it and hopefully allay any concerns that you might have.
For any further information or to book or cancel an appointment with us, please call Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529.