Advanced Endodontics

Key benefits of treatment

Teeth are held in the jaws by their roots. Front teeth normally have one root, but teeth further back in the mouth have more. At the core of each tooth is a soft mass of tissue, called the pulp. In a healthy tooth, the pulp contains living fibres, cells, nerves and a blood supply.

Stages of treatment

There are four stages of root canal treatment:

• Removal of the infected pulp
• Shaping and disinfection of the root canal
• Filling of the root canal to prevent reinfection
• Restoring the tooth back to its original shape

For more complex cases, we may recommend you see Dr. Oliver Stew. He has advanced training in endodontics and uses an operating microscope to provide unrivalled visibility and attention to detail.

More about Ollie…

What happens during treatment?

Root canal treatment can often take more than one appointment to complete, depending on the tooth being treated. We will give you a temporary filling or crown between appointments to protect your tooth.

• We first give you an x-ray, allowing us to see the shape of your tooth, the number of roots and whether infection is present.
• Before beginning treatment, we place a thin rubber sheet, known as a rubber dam, around the affected tooth. This ensures the inside of the tooth is kept clean and you are protected. It also makes the whole procedure more predictable and successful.
• We use local anaesthetic to make sure you are comfortable before beginning treatment.
• Small, delicate instruments are used to explore, shape, clean and disinfect the root canals. We are able to improve accuracy and visibility by using our operating microscope.
• Once the root has been cleaned, we fill it with a rubber material. Your tooth is now restored, but we may recommend an onlay or crown is fitted to protect it from fracture in the long term.