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Root Canal Treatments – What to Expect

by | Sep 26, 2022 | Root Canal Treatments

Do you require a root canal? If discovered early enough, an infected tooth may be successfully treated and saved with a root canal.

Many patients may find getting a root canal frightening, but we’re pleased to say that treatment methods have advanced to the point where patients no longer have anything to worry about.

What to anticipate before, during, and following a root canal treatment?

Before Treatment

The dentist will perform a preliminary assessment to determine whether root canal therapy is your best option for preserving it. There is likely a cavity if there is tooth pain.

Fillings are a fix for some cavities. These cavities are typically shallow to moderately deep.

Still, they are usually mild enough that the tooth can be protected and saved by simply cleaning it and replacing the cleared-out area with composite or metal.

If your dentist decides that the cavity is too advanced for this treatment, they will advise a root canal as the best option. To give you time to get ready, they will schedule another appointment for you.

You will arrive as usual on the scheduled day. Your dentist will discuss your options for dealing with the pain.

While some dentists may recommend nitrous oxide or local anaesthetics, others might approve complete sedation.

After this takes effect, they will begin your root canal treatment.

During Treatment

You may require an injection during root canal procedures to numb discomfort or pain. Typically, a local anaesthetic is used to perform the root canal procedure (numbing).

Your dentist may use a rubber dam to keep the tooth area dry and free of saliva after numbing it.

A rubber dam is nothing more than a piece of rubber that fits over the tooth and separates from the rest of the mouth.

After the decay and bacteria have been removed, your dentist will use root canal files to clean out the canals (roots) of the tooth.

Root canal files are small instruments that expand in diameter and fit into canals, allowing the dentist to remove the nerve. Your dentist will then drill an opening in the tooth to prepare it.

Some dentists prefer to wait a week or two before finishing a root canal to ensure no discomfort or further infection.

If this is the case, your Melbourne CBD dentist will thoroughly clean the tooth, insert some soothing medicine, and seal it with a temporary filling material.

At the end of a root canal treatment, the dentist will usually fill the canals with gutta-percha, a rubber filling material. Following the filling of the canals, a standard filling will be placed in the tooth.

After Treatment

After sealing the root canal, your dentist will place a filling in the tooth.

Similar to the aftereffects of a routine filling, there may be some minor soreness for a few days. This is typically manageable with over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen.

Once it is secure enough, the dentist typically completes the procedure with a new crown on the tooth after some time.

This accomplishes two goals: it adds another layer of defence against future decay and strengthens the tooth against stress fracture.

Root canal procedures have an exceptional track record for saving decayed teeth. Nothing to be afraid of, and your problematic tooth has everything to gain.

Save Your Teeth with Root Canal at Art De Dente Melbourne CBD

By receiving a root canal, you can save a tooth and take good care of your oral health.

At Art De Dente Melbourne CBD, we are dedicated to keeping you at ease while receiving the highest levels of comfort throughout your entire visit.

Visit your Melbourne CBD dentist if you have pain or swelling in your mouth as soon as possible.

Call Art De Dente Melbourne CBD at (03) 9642 8955 for an appointment now.

Visit us at Level 17, 190 Queen Street in Melbourne CBD.