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Root Canal Treatment

Wave goodbye to broken, infected and painful teeth.

As part of our general dentistry procedures we carry out quality and pain-free root canal treatment at Gosforth Dental Surgery in Newcastle. Root canal treatment is also known as endodontics; it is necessary when the nerve supply (known as the pulp) to the tooth becomes infected. It involves saving a diseased tooth by removing the root pulp and replacing it with bio-grade rubber filling.

Endodontic treatment involves removing inflamed or infected dental pulp, before carefully cleaning and shaping the root canal. The space inside the canal is then filled and sealed. Following root canal treatment at Gosforth Dental Surgery, your dentist will recommend a permanent filling a crown to protect the tooth and to restore it to full function.

Root Canal Treatment in Newcastle

Root canal treatment in steps

Firstly, we understand your aims from the treatment and discuss all the available options with you. Your dentist at our Newcastle Dental Practice will take some X-rays and diagnose the reason of the tooth infection.

A local anaesthetic is used, when the tooth is numb, it is then “isolated” with a small sheet of rubber called a dam, which is held in place by a small clip. This barrier stops water, debris, filling materials and disinfectants getting to the back of your mouth. Your dentist will create a small opening on the top of the tooth to find the root canals and to remove the infected pulp tissue within, the canals are carefully cleaned and shaped with very small instruments and disinfectant fluids.

When the root canals have been cleaned and shaped, the last visit will involve filling the canals with a biocompatible material called Gutta Percha (a type of rubber) and a cement to ensure complete sealing. Your dentist at Gosforth Dental Surgery will then place a temporary filling is to seal the opening. This temporary filling will later be removed and replaced with a permanent filling or a crown.

Frequently asked questions

It is a procedure to clean out the materials from within the root systems of teeth. It is also known as ‘taking the nerve out’. The removal of this material is necessary if it is infected or likely to become infected, following previous decay or trauma. Once the root system is cleaned, it is then shaped to receive a permanent root filling usually in the form of a flexible rubber called Gutta Percha.

Anyone whose inner tooth is infected due to decay, disease or injury, or who has a discoloured tooth as a result of a dying tooth nerve may need root canal treatment. The treatment is aimed at preventing the loss of the tooth, the spread of infection, or the formation of abscesses. At Gosforth Dental Surgery, your dentist can diagnose if you need root canal treatment and advise you further about the treatment.

Sealants usually last for many years, but your dentist at our Newcastle Dental Practice will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dentist needs to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath them.

If you have experienced an injury to your mouth and notice that your tooth is starting to discolour, this can be the start of an infected or dying tooth root. Other symptoms may include swollen and sensitive gums around the sore tooth, and a nagging toothache. It is best to have your tooth checked by our dentist at Gosforth Dental Surgery just to make sure so that spreading tooth decay or gum disease can be avoided early.

After the initial examination and X-ray with diagnosis, an appointment is made to proceed with the root canal treatment. Treatment is usually performed with local anaesthetic in either one or two visits, depending on the complexity and available time. To isolate the mouth from disinfectants, a rubber dam is placed. This is a sheet that covers all of the teeth apart from the tooth involved. At our Newcastle Dental Practice, your dentist will remove any existing fillings and access the root canal for cleaning and disinfection. The root canal system is then filled with a material, such as gutta perch. After completing the root canal treatment, your dentist will advise you about the options for the permanent restoration which will include a filling or a crown.

During the procedure at Gosforth Dental Surgery, your resident dentist gives you a local anaesthetic that numbs the tooth and gum regions under treatment so that no pain is felt, such as with a tooth filling. If you experience anxiety about dental treatment, our dentist can discuss sedative options to help you feel calm before and during the root canal treatment.

The success of root canal treatment does also depend on several factors; the amount of damage to the tooth, the size of infection, and the patient’s overall health. There may be higher risks associated with root canal treatment for infected back teeth that have more root canals generally than front teeth. Any risks associated with treatment can be explained by your dentist at your initial examination at our Newcastle Dental Practice.