When a tooth becomes infected in its root, it becomes necessary to remove the root in order to save the tooth and prevent the spread of infection. This process is called a root canal treatment and involves completely removing the infected pulp at the centre of the tooth that may be causing severe pain and greatly affecting your dental and general health. Occasionally a root canal can be used to treat a tooth abscess where the abscess is a result of a greater infection.
Although often seen as the most terrifying and painful of dental procedures, with the advances in dental technology and modern pain relief, there is no real need for it to be any more painful than a regular filling. Your City of Leeds will certainly do all they can to make the process as pain free as possible for you.
This will involve anaesthetising the area before the surgery begins. The dentist will rub a gel-like substance into the gums to numb them before injecting a local anaesthetic to numb the teeth, lips and gums. The dentist will then use the dreaded drill to remove the infected pulp. Due to the anaesthetic, this will sound far more unpleasant than it feels and is a very simple procedure. The cavity that remains will then be filled with medicine to kill off any remaining infection before it is filled and then capped. If the structure of the tooth has been weakened, it may be necessary to apply a crown to the tooth with cement, but this depends on the circumstances. The patient may experience some pain or a numb feeling for a few days after the surgery but his will pass and can be controlled with over-the-counter painkillers.
Despite their fearsome reputations, root canals are one of the most important dental procedures and can make the difference between keeping a tooth and losing it. The earlier the procedure is performed, the less developed the infection. This means that not only will the infection be prevented from spreading making the surgery easier, but also it will probably be less uncomfortable and quicker.
So if you think you may have an infected tooth, make an appointment to see a City of Leeds dentist as soon as possible and you might save yourself further pain and complications.
