People tend to shy away from root canal treatment because they think it’s going to be a frightening experience.
Come now, I’m sure we’ve all seen finding Nemo at some point in our lives and witnessed the scene at the dental practice where the patient undergoes a ‘root canal’ treatment. We love Nemo and his friends, but obviously along with fish-friendly sharks and pelicans, this violent-looking version of root canal treatment is not an accurate re-enactment of the treatment.
Here at Andrew Baderski Dental located in Ingleburn, we practice careful and gentle dentistry, offering payment plans and helpful advice for our patients. When it comes to root canal treatment, we want to assure you that you are in safe hands.
To make sure you are completely comfortable with your root canal treatment, read through the following article and allow Dr Baderski to walk you through the treatment; one bit of information at a time.
It starts with a tooth
Now what do you really know about your teeth? Before delving into the treatment, let’s take some time to get to know those pearly whites.
The 4 different parts that make up your teeth are:
#1 – Enamel
This is the part of the tooth we always hear about. The enamel is a thick protective layer that covers the fraction of tooth you can see. Although the enamel is one of the hardest substances in the body, because it’s the most exposed portion it’s also the most likely to be damaged.
#2 – Dentin
To defend the inner pulp of the tooth, there is a second protective layer known as dentin. This surrounds the nerves of the tooth and when the enamel has suffered damage and the dentin is exposed, this is usually when we feel excess sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
#3 – Dental Pulp
This part of the tooth is full of nerves and minerals which send out the messages of sensitivity to the rest of the tooth. The dental pulp is located within the roots of the tooth, below the surface of the enamel and dentin. The pulp pumps the nutrients into the dentin to strengthen it, keeping your tooth nice and healthy.
#4 – Cementum
The cementum is the part of your tooth that hides beneath the gums. It acts like a type of glue to secure your tooth and place and stop it from coming loose in your mouth.
Understanding your teeth is a fundamental step to understanding your root canal treatment. Knowledge is power and here at Dr Andrew Baderski’s Dental Practice we want to make sure all our patients are comfortable and enlightened before they undergo any of our treatments.
Why is the treatment necessary?
Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected. As the pulp dies it becomes contaminated with an excess of bacteria and causes you pain.
Generally patients suffer from swelling in the gums, soreness, aching and could even be an on-and-off pain in the same tooth. Sometimes you might not know your tooth is infected because your body’s natural antivirus systems are working hard to fight it.
This is where early detection is key! Make sure you are coming in to Dr Andrew Baderski’s Dental Practice for regular check-ups every 6 months, this way you’ll be able to prevent excess damage. Because, left untreated, root canal problems can lead to abscesses and a handful of other nasty issues.
How is the treatment carried out?
Now that you know your teeth and why the treatment is necessary, let us explain the treatment in 3 easy steps:
- After administering a local aesthetic to numb the area, our dentist would wrap the tooth in a rubber material and the affected parts of the tooth would be removed.
- Using very small files, the infected pulp would be extracted from the root canal and thorough cleaning and disinfecting would be needed to get rid of any remaining bacteria. After this the canal would be dried.
- Using a rubber-like substance called gutta-percha to prevent any further bacterial infection, the tooth would be sealed.
Occasionally patients may need to split their treatment into two sittings where the root canal will be medicated and temporarily sealed in between and in cases, because due to a lack of stability, the tooth may need a crown to reinforce and restore it. One of our fantastic professionals here at Dr Andrew Baderski’s Dental Practice will fully explain all elements of the treatment in your visit to our practice.
Want to learn more? Book a consultation and find out how Dr Andrew Baderski’s Dental Practice in Ingleburn can help you restore the health of your teeth through root canal treatment today.