Need to have endodontics performed? Common FAQS about root canals answered by our dentist
When you are recovering from a dental infection or abscess, you may be curious as to how your dental team will prevent it from recurring.
Historically, the easiest way to get rid of a dental infection was to simply remove the tooth via extraction but, if the tooth was located at the front of the mouth, this would pose an obvious aesthetic issue.
In the last 100 years of dental care, there has been a way to retain any infected teeth while also treating an infection; with a root canal or endodontic procedure!
At Aura Dental, our dentist in St Johns Wood knows all about performing root canals and has helped thousands of people to retain their gorgeous smiles using this technique. But, we are also well aware of the rumours and myths that surround this procedure and are here to assure you that it is perfectly safe!
So, when our dentist in St Johns Wood talks to patients about root canals, what are the most common questions that are asked about the procedure? Read on to find out!
Are they uncomfortable?
In a word, no.
Our dentist in St Johns Wood will numb your gum before beginning any dental procedure, so while in the dental chair, you won’t feel a thing!
But, interestingly, as a root canal removes the infected debris from the inside of the tooth, even when our injectable pain relief wears away, you will likely notice a decrease in discomfort. Great stuff!
Do they cause the infection to spread?
Again, no they do not.
A root canal is performed by our team drilling into the infected tooth and removing the infection, then filling the tooth with a putty-like material to prevent a recurrence. And so, this method actually prevents the infection from spreading to surrounding soft tissues.
How long does it take?
Your root canal can take a single appointment or, if it is being performed on a molar, it can take two. A root canal performed on a single-rooted tooth will usually take between 60-90 minutes to complete.
If we spot, during the diagnostic X-Rays, that you have misshapen roots (very common!) then we may need to refer you to a specialist endodontist to have the root canal performed.
Will the infection come back?
It is highly unlikely that an infection will reoccur in a tooth that has had a root canal.
In fact, endodontics in general have a success rate of over 97%, but if you suspect that an infection is occurring in your mouth, please contact our team for an emergency appointment.
How long does a root canal last?
With proper oral hygiene, a root canal can last for the rest of your life without hassle!
Our team will always check on the condition of any endodontic or restorative work at your biannual check-ups.
If your root canal does fail, we will aim to reapply it. If it continually fails, we will then consider extracting the tooth and will discuss restorative options with you.