Root Canal Treatment

The outside of a tooth is made from hard enamel which protects the softer inner sections which contain the pulp and nerves stored within the root canals.

When the enamel layer of the tooth is compromised, perhaps due to a tiny crack or decay, bacteria can enter the tooth and cause infection. This infection can spread and cause extreme pain, even to the point of being dangerous to a person’s health.

When this happens, the infected material inside the tooth must be removed and the tooth repaired using a technique known as root canal treatment. This is also known as endondontics.

How is root canal treatment performed?

If we suspect you need root canal treatment we will likely need to x-ray your tooth to check to see what is happening inside. This will show up any infection and also help us to identify the position of the root canals. There can be more than one canal depending on the type of tooth.

We will also check for any abscesses that may have formed in the gum near the infected tooth and these will be treated with antibiotics before any further treatment takes place.

When you attend for treatment, our dentist will access the top of your tooth in order to reach the root canals. Special equipment will be used to clear away the infected material from within the tooth and the root canals treated to ensure no infection remains.

The empty root canals are filled with a special type of filling known as ‘gutta percha’ and the top of the tooth sealed to prevent any further infection from entering. To do this we will often use a dental crown which restores both the aesthetics and strength of the treated tooth.

Specialist Endodontics

Root canal treatment takes a lot of skill and experience and where complex cases arise, we may refer you to the services of a specialist endodontist, a dentist who has completed several years of additional training specifically in this area of dentistry.

If you have an infected tooth requiring root canal treatment, the experienced team at Homerton Dental Care can help. Please call us today on 020 8985 6650 to arrange your consultation.