Endodontics

A local Anaesthetic is used and the whole procedure should feel little different to that of having a normal filling although the appointment will usually be longer. There will usually be some pain or discomfort for 3-4 days following the treatment. The tooth may feel slightly tender and “different” for a few weeks following treatment.

The alternative to RCT is the extraction of the tooth. Once the pulp is damaged, it cannot heal without treatment and it is not recommended to leave an infected tooth in the mouth.
What will my tooth look like after treatment?
Sometimes a root treated tooth will darken after treatment. If any discolouration does take place, there are various cosmetic treatments available to restore the natural appearance of the tooth.

Root canal treatment is usually successful in about 80% of cases, although this depends largely on the difficulty of the individual tooth. If there should be a recurrence of infection the treatment can usually be repeated. If a tooth has a particularly difficult shape, or a complication, it is possible to refer to a specialist who can use advanced techniques and instruments to treat your tooth. Sometimes extraction of the tooth is the only option if treatment fails.

RCT is routinely offered in our practice for most teeth. However some teeth are more complicated to treat and require specialist attention to give a reasonable chance of success; in these cases referral may be recommended. Sometimes a tooth may be in a condition where RCT is not worthwhile; for instance teeth that have no useful function, teeth badly affected by gum disease, teeth that have split and teeth that cannot be reliably restored after RCT. If your oral condition is very poor and you have uncontrolled decay or periodontal problems, you will need to control these problems before embarking on root-treatment.

Endodontics is one of the most difficult disciplines in dentistry, and probably the one with the lowest levels of predictability and success. You can choose to have your root treatment performed by your usual dentist, or you can choose to be referred privately to a specialist who perform the treatment using advanced equipment and techniques available to them. Referral of your treatment can often result in a more predictable result with your root-treatment increasing the chances of keeping your tooth.
Are there any risks?

There is a moderate risk of pain and swelling immediately following treatment and for a few days afterwards. This is normally relieved by over-the-counter painkillers but can occasionally be more severe.

• Sometimes there can be a spreading infection from the tooth, which may need antibiotics.
• Root-canal instruments are very fragile- there is a possibility that one may break inside the tooth.
• The root filling may sometimes extend beyond the tip of the root, or may not completely fill the root to the tip.
• The tooth may be “perforated” (this is when a hole is made through the side of the tooth when searching for small canals)

Any of these complications may compromise the prognosis for the tooth and delay or prevent healing. In some cases a serious complication may necessitate extraction of the tooth or referral to a specialist.

Root filled teeth are weaker and more brittle than live teeth. For this reason it is often advisable to restore the root-filled tooth with a crown or onlay to reinforce the tooth. We normally wait a few months after treatment so that we can be sure that the root canal treatment is OK prior to assessing whether crowning is advisable.