ROOT CANALS TO SAVE YOUR TEETH

The aim of root canal (endodontic) treatment is to save teeth that might otherwise face removal, here at Hartog Dental we pride ourselves in our root canal treatment being painless, comfortable and efficiently carried out.

We offer Endodontic Treatments / Root Canals to Hartog Dental patients, or you can self-refer (just get in touch), or be referred by your existing dentist (Learn More / Make a referral).

What is root canal treatment?

A “root canal” is not a treatment, but part of a tooth. It is the hollow section of a tooth that contains the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp.

A tooth consists of a crown and roots. The crown is mainly above the gum, while the roots are below it. The roots attach the tooth to the jaw bone via a ligament called the periodontal ligament. This ligament can become damaged as a result of trauma or bacterial invasion, this can sometimes be seen on an X-ray (2D) or CBCT (3D) which is why these might be taken at your appointment.

nside the crown and the root, within the root canal lies the pulp. This pulp when healthy, nourishes the tooth but when diseased or infected by bacteria can cause toothache, tenderness and even lead to loosening the tooth.

The name of the dental procedure commonly referred to as a “root canal” is actually endodontic therapy, which means “inside the tooth.” It involves the meticulous cleaning, shaping and filling of this little tiny space within the tooth that once housed the healthy pulp tissue within the tooth crown and roots. Teeth vary enormously and can have many different numbers of roots, however the precise number and location can be found by using CBCT (3D) scanning images and the use of an operating microscope.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal therapy is done in three steps, and it usually takes between one and three sessions to complete.

1. Cleaning the root canal

First, we remove everything that is inside the root canal. We make a tiny access hole on the surface of the tooth with our state of the art operating microscope to remove the diseased and dead pulp tissue with tiny files.

2. Filling the root canal

Next, we clean, shape and decontaminate the hollow area, using tiny files and irrigation solutions. The tooth is filled with a rubber-like material, using an adhesive cement to seal the canals completely. After root canal therapy, the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed, and the infection has been eliminated.

3. Adding a crown or filling

The final stage is to make the tooth strong again. A crown (a cover on a tooth) resembles a tooth and is permanently cemented on. Crowns are custom fit to each tooth and the shape and color can be customized to maximize its aesthetics. Crowns surround teeth circumferentially and cover the chewing surface. This reduces stress on a weakened tooth and protects it against trauma and chewing forces.