Root Canal Treatment at MSC

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment (also known as endodontics) is a procedure that is used to remove infection from the root canal of your tooth.

Why it’s Important

The blood or nerve supply of a tooth - known as the pulp- can become infected due to decay or injury, and if this happens, the infection could spread through the root canal system of the tooth, potentially leading to an abscess. Therefore, root canal treatment (RCT) is important because it helps to stop the spread of infection. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the spread of infection will occur and it is possible that the tooth will need to be taken out.

Given that the pulp cannot heal once it is destroyed and that it is not advisable to leave an infected tooth in the mouth, there is the alternative option of having the tooth removed. While this may seem like a preferable option to some people, it is usually best to keep as many natural teeth as possible.

What Happens During Treatment?

A time-consuming treatment that requires a lot of skill, root canal treatment means you will need to make a minimum of two visits to your dentist. Firstly, the infected pulp is removed; also, if there are any abscesses, these will be drained at this stage. After this, the root canal is cleaned and shaped to prepare it for filling. A temporary filling is put in before the tooth is then left to settle.

At a later visit, the tooth will be checked. Once all of the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.

Following Treatment

There are treatments available to you if the root canal treatment leads to tooth discolouration, which is rare. It may be a good idea to restore the tooth with a crown to strengthen it. Take care of any teeth that have undergone this treatment in the same way as you would with your normal teeth; clean them at least once a day- ideally with a fluoride toothpaste, reduce the number of sugary snacks you eat and keep them to mealtimes if possible, and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups.

If the root canal treatment is not advised by your dentist, or if the treatment is unsuccessful and repeated RCT attempts also fail, apicoectomy becomes necessary. This form of treatment attempts to get rid of the root tip and all of the infected tissue. A small incision will be made into your gum before the infected tissue and remaining few millimetres of the root tip are taken away. Finally, a filling is placed to seal the root end. Depending on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the roots, the treatment can last between 30-90 minutes.

How Midlands Smile Centres Can Help

Root Canal Treatment is a very important type of treatment for patients. Given the problems that a damaged or decayed root canal can cause, you will be happy to learn that root canal treatment is available here at Midlands Smile Centres and is performed by our highly skilled, experienced dentists. If you're experiencing pains, swelling or abscesses, it's important that you book a dental appointment as soon as possible, to reduce the amount of permanent damage that could be caused.

Emergency Dental Treatment at MSC

Emergency dental treatment is available at Midlands Smile Centres practices across Birmingham. You do not need to be a Midlands Smile Centres patient to receive our emergency dental treatment. It is always advisable in dental emergencies to see a dentist quickly. Doing so will mean a better chance of resolving the problems with your teeth.

Due to the fact that we at MSC have practices situated around Birmingham, we are often closer to patients who require help than the Dental Hospital or other dentists providing emergency dental treatment. We are usually able to give you the attention you require faster than a Dental Hospital.*

Warning signs that dental problems are occurring can be subtle. At times, warning signs can easily go unnoticed due to low levels of pain being more difficult to detect during the day. Midlands Smiles Centres can be contacted if pain killers are failing to provide the necessary relief from pain.

Visit our website for Emergency Dental Treatment from MSC. 

If possible, we will arrange for treatment to take place at your nearest Midlands Smile Centre practice. If this is not possible, please note that Selly Oak MSC and Kings Heath MSC are usually staffed by our emergency dentists.

Contact us immediately if you have any of these problems:

• Toothache that has lasted for more than 30 minutes after taking pain relief, cleaning and flossing between your teeth.
• A lump on your gum line next to the root of your teeth. This could be an abscess and could result in tooth loss if it is left untreated.
• A broken tooth or broken filling. Failure to receive treatment for this could result in further tooth or filling damage and eventual tooth loss.
• A broken crown. Without treatment this could result in untreatable decay to the root of the tooth, abscesses and eventual tooth loss.

• A tooth which has been knocked out. Place the dislodged tooth in a sealed container filled with milk and take it with you to the dentist. The reason for this is that dislodged teeth can sometimes be re-inserted. Do not wash or clean the tooth as this reduces the possibility of it being reinserted.
• A lost tooth. The wound left in your gum can be attended to by a dentist. Infection in the wound can cause abscesses and other complications. This is particularly important if you plan to have a dental implant.
• A loose or partially dislodged adult tooth. Avoid touching the tooth, except if you are preventing the tooth from falling out. Try to support the tooth instead of applying pressure to the tooth to keep it in place. Your dentist may be able to reinsert the tooth into its original location.

 

You do not need to be registered or have previously been a patient of Midlands Smile Centres to access our emergency dental treatment service. If you need Emergency Dental Treatment from Midlands Smile Centres, you can find everything you need on our website. 

*assumes Midlands Smile Centre practices are closer to patients than Birmingham Dental Hospital and patients call during practice opening hours.

Dental Treatment Available to You

Dental Treatment at MSC

Midlands Smile Centres have a number of different treatments to suit a variety of wants and needs. It is always suggested that before undergoing treatment, you should understand what options are available to you. This will ensure you to receive the best treatment for you. If dental treatment is something that you require, you and your dentist will be looking into many options to establish what the best course of action is.

Orthodontic Treatment

The first aspect that should be looked at when it comes to getting dental treatment should be why the treatment is necessary in the first place. The reasons can be personal such as you are unhappy with how your teeth look or for medical reasons such as having crowded teeth which can cause problems later in life. Starting with Orthodontics, one type of treatment that is available at MSC includes Damon braces, these apply gentle pressure in order to move your teeth into their desired position. They are also considered to be more comfortable than traditional braces.

Another type of treatment that is becoming more and more popular are Invisalign braces. Like all orthodontic treatments, their objective is to relocate the teeth to improve comfort and appearance for the patient, however there is no visible aspect to the treatment. Invisalign braces are almost invisible to the eye and can be easily removed, to make eating and cleaning easier. If you're looking for something that works a little quicker, Six Months Smiles may be for you. This orthodontic treatment uses tooth-coloured braces that straightens the teeth in an average time of 4-9 months.

Restorative Dentistry

Looking at other types of treatment, Midlands Smile Centres offers a wide range of options including restorative treatments such as bridges, crowns and dentures. These could be the best course of action when you feel like you need a boost to your smile. Bridges are an effective alternative when you have missing teeth. They work by being secured to the natural teeth that surround the area left by the missing teeth. Crowns on the other hand are used to repair a damaged tooth, they are placed on top of a partially broken tooth in order to strengthen the tooth and avoid more damage. Dentures are an alternative to this and cover a number of treatments such as dental implants which can complete your smile again.

Cosmetic Dentistry

The motivation to get dental treatment is an important one. For many people their smile is an important part of their appearance and can have a massive effect on a person’s self-confidence. Here at Midlands Smile Centre we understand that it is an ever growing worry for many people, because of this we offer a diverse range of treatment to enable you to smile confidently again. An example of this type of treatment includes fillings. These can be used to fill gaps in the teeth and look very natural. This again is something that is important to our patients.

Other such treatments that can be used to boost confidence include tooth whitening kits that can be used at home. After a tooth assessment conducted by one of our fully trained dentists, a tooth whitening kit may be a possible option for you. If you decide to go ahead you will receive a whitening gel along with a crafted tray that is made for your teeth, this can be worn for several hours a day until you feel the treatment is complete.

Airflow treatment is commonly used by our dentists during dental appointments. This treatment works by shooting pressurised air, water and sodium at the specific teeth in order to clean and polish them. This should improve the appearance of your teeth. As well as this, veneers could be the ideal improvement your smile. These are usually made of porcelain and are coloured to look like teeth in order to make your smile more appealing.

Your Journey Towards Perfect Teeth

The sooner you start your journey towards perfect teeth, the sooner you'll see results. If you are looking to brighten your smile then Midlands smile centres are here to help you. Before deciding whether the treatment is right for you, make sure you’ve done your research and understand what the treatment entails. It is also important that you take on-board any advice that is given to you by our dental professionals in order to make the correct decision.

If you’re considering dental improvement, please get in touch with Midlands Smile Centres for more information and to enquire about an appointment.