Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment (RCT) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal system) and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. Root Canal Treatment is needed when the pulp chamber and the canals within the roots of a tooth are irreversibly inflamed due to infection, causing severe pain. The inflammation can be caused by many factors such as infection, otherwise known as tooth decay, fractured and broken tooth, fracture lines due to grinding and trauma of a kind. Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of infected pulp resulting in pain and a need for root canal treatment to save the tooth.

Pain after Root Canal Treatment

As the local anaesthetic wears off after the root canal treatment, you might experience mild pain and sensitivity. Pain and discomfort after root canal are not uncommon. This is related to cleaning process. This process can lead to bruising around the tooth and causes inflammation and discomfort. Normally, the discomfort subsides within few days and responds well to anti-inflammatory painkiller. If you develop a swelling immediately after root canal treatment has been done, you need to let your dentist know or to see an emergency dentist. If the pain is arising a few months after the procedure has been completed, this may be an indication of re-infection, in this case it is important to have the tooth assessed.

Success rate of Root Canal Treatment

Studies have shown that following the proper procedures as laid down by the experts (British Endodontic Society or American Endodontic Society) there is on average 70-75% chance of success with root canal treatments over 4-5 years. Following the correct procedures for the root canal treatment, the type of materials used, the type of equipment used and the skill of the treatment provider contribute enormously to the success rate.

Accessing Emergency Dental Care in Edinburgh City

Emergency Dentist Edinburgh is an appointment based private dental service to help all patients get the high-quality care they need to feel better right away. Get in touch with us by phone or email and we can arrange an appointment with one of our caring and experienced dentists to assess your oral health.

Alternative treatment options to Root Canal Treatment

The alternative option to root canal treatment is an extraction of the tooth. Although on many occasions this may seem a more attractive and quicker option to get rid of pain or infection, it should be considered that extraction is an irreversible process. Extraction is usually recommended by the dentist when it is not possible to restore the tooth with core and crown after the root canal treatment is completed. If a tooth is beyond repair and is suggested to have extraction, the patient can either accept the gap remaining after extraction or replace the missing tooth with denture, bridge or implant.