If you have an infected tooth, you may be advised to have root canal treatment, but what exactly is root canal therapy and what benefits does this procedure offer?

What is root canal treatment and what does the procedure involve?

Underneath the hard enamel layer of the tooth lies a section of the tooth called the dentine; the dentine contains the pulp tissue, which is the living tissue of the tooth. When an infection reaches the pulp tissue, which contains the blood vessels and nerves, blood supply to the tooth is reduced and the tooth gradually dies; the risk of further infection is also increased. Root canal treatment is a procedure, which is used to save a tooth when the pulp tissue has become infected; it is often the only alternative to extraction.

Many people are anxious about root canal treatment because they assume that it will be painful; however, we carry out treatment under local anaesthetic, so you won’t feel a thing and you can just relax. Once the tooth is numb, your dentist will drill into the tooth and removed decayed tissue from the root canals; once they are completely clear of decayed pulp tissue, your dentist will then clean them and fill them using dental material called gutta percha. The root canals will then be sealed off; this helps to prevent bacteria from spreading to other parts of the tooth. After root canal treatment, we usually recommend placing a new crown, as this helps to make the tooth stronger and also makes it look more attractive.

What are the benefits of root canal treatment?

At City Dental Leeds we do our best to keep the teeth intact and healthy and root canal treatment is a procedure we use to eliminate infection and reduces the chances of a tooth being lost. In most cases, root canal treatment is a really effective and beneficial alternative to tooth extraction. Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic so you don’t need to worry about pain and the end result is a strong, infection-free tooth.