Root Canal Treatment

What is Involved?

The Process

Consultation
Our dental specialists/ dentists will find out the details of your medical and dental history, go through a consultation and examination, and take an x-ray of your teeth and jaws, to ascertain if you are suitable for root canal treatment. Thereafter our dentists will discuss with you to recommend the most appropriate solution for your needs.

Treatment
Inside a tooth is a soft, living tissue called the pulp (also called the “nerve”). The pulp contains blood vessels, fibers and nerves. A root canal treatment is needed when the nerve of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected.

Local anaesthetic will be administered at the site of the tooth to be treated. An opening will be made in the top of the tooth and the infected pulp or nerve will be cleaned from the root canals and the pulp chamber. The space will also be sterilized and shaped for filling. Biocompatible material will then be used to fill the root canal. Adhesive cement is placed to seal the root canals completely. A temporary filling will be used.

This process can be completed in 1 or 2 visits (usually 1 week apart if 2 visits are required).

Restoration
As the structure of the tooth is compromised, in some cases, a dental crown will be recommended. A foundation build-up will be placed, followed by the crown to protect it and restore it to full function. The restored tooth looks, feels and functions like your other teeth.
For more information on crowns, please refer to our Crowns Page.

Follow Up Care
For the first few days after treatment, in rare cases, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with pain relief medication.

Most root canal-treated teeth last as long as your natural teeth and require the same maintenance. This includes flossing, brushing and regular 6 monthly dental check-ups.
In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Further treatment (e.g. root end surgery) may be necessary.

Occasionally, the tooth may become painful months or even years after successful treatment usually due to new decay and/or leakage problems. When this occurs, there may be a need to re-do the endodontic procedure to save the tooth.