What is endodontics?

Endodontics, also known as root canal treatment, refers to the procedure that is undertaken to treat an infection in the middle of the tooth. You will need to visit your dentist Luton to treat this professionally. This soft centre is known as the ‘pulp’. It is this centre that contains all the nerves, tissues and connectives that help the tooth to grow and remain healthy. If you think you require endodontics treatment visit Vogue Dental Care Luton where our experts will be more than happy to assist you with all your needs.

When is a root canal required?

You will need to get root canal treatment at your dentist Luton if you experience inflammation or infection in the centre of your tooth. The key signs to look out for when considering whether you have an infection and require root canal treatment include ongoing pain in the area that does not stop and in fact gets worse when you bite down. You may also experience sensitivity to certain foods and drinks which does not stop once you have finished eating or drinking and you may also experience tenderness and swelling on your tooth. Common causes of damage to your tooth pulp include deep decay, a chip or crack to the tooth that is left untreated, or an injury to the tooth. As soon as you experience any of these issues ensure you make an appointment with your dentist Luton so that they can treat this for you as quickly as possible.

What happens at the appointment?

At your appointment your dentist will examine the infected tooth and take X-rays to understand the extent of the damage caused. If the dentist determines that you do in fact require root canal treatment you will be seen by one of the endodontists, who are specialised in performing the treatment. The endodontist will use local anaesthetic to numb the infected tooth, to make sure that you do not experience any pain whilst the procedure is performed. Once the local anaesthetic has made your tooth numb the endodontist will start the treatment.

Firstly they will need to make a small opening at the top of your tooth to remove the infected or damaged pulp from your tooth. The endodontist will make certain to clean out the canals in your tooth to ensure that no decay or infection remains. Once the pulp has been removed your dentist will then place an ointment on top of the tooth and this will act as an antibiotic to help treat the tooth, and to avoid reinfection from occurring. Then the tooth will get sealed, you may be given a temporary tooth filling to cover the top of the tooth. Your dentist will also prescribe you oral antibiotics to further assist with the treatment. You will need to ensure that you take the tablets as prescribed so that there will be less risk of reinfection.

Once your treatment is complete you will most likely experience some discomfort and pain for the first 24-48 hours. Do not be concerned if this is the case, as it is to be expected. Make sure you take some painkillers to treat the pain and provide you with some comfort.