A root canal is a common dental procedure and can save your natural teeth.

Root canals become necessary when there is a severe infection of the dental pulp or soft tissue inside a tooth.

How does the dental pulp become infected?

Bacteria enters the tooth through a gap in the chewing surface, infecting the pulp and causing decay. This often happens due to traumatic injury or severe tooth decay.

What happens if I don’t treat it?

The surrounding gums, teeth, and your jawbone could become infected, causing complications and even tooth loss.

What can I expect to happen during a root canal?

Your dentist will take x-rays to determine the extent of the damage and the shape and size of the soft tissue area inside the tooth.

Using a local anaesthetic to numb the area, your dentist will clean the root canal area, removing any infected pulp, then disinfect it and seal it, using a special filling material.

Once it is sealed, depending on the extent of the damage your dentist will restore the tooth’s functionality using a dental crown or filling.

How will I feel afterwards?

Once the anaesthetic wears off, you may feel mild discomfort for a day or two. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help you manage the discomfort. To prevent further decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene.

If you think you may have a dental pulp infection, call Dentique Specialist Centre immediately on 020 8360 0500 to book an appointment.