Endodontic Treatment, or more commonly known as a “Root Canal Treatment”, is a procedure aimed at treating an “Infected Tooth” with a dead or dying nerve.
If such a tooth is left unattended, it can cause severe discomfort or health risks due to infection. The common causes of a root canal infection are:
- Deep decay
- Trauma to the tooth
- Crack or chip in the tooth
- Occasionally, the cause may be unknown
Your dentist will first establish whether you need a root canal or an extraction. If a root canal is needed, the treatment will continue as follows: a small hole is drilled in the tooth (on the top of the tooth for molars and at the back for front teeth) to access the root canal/ canals of the tooth or teeth. This is all performed under local anaesthesia to provide a gentle and virtually pain-free experience.
Depending on the severity of the infection, root canal treatment can be carried out between 1-3 visits.