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.

Oral and Kidney Health Linked?

Your oral health is very important for your body, it’s possible that your general health and well being could be severely affected by a lack of oral hygiene. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy means you not only avoid oral problems such as cavities, gum disease or losing teeth, but you could also avoid a number of other serious health problems.

The Link

Recent discoveries have strengthened the link between dental health and general health and well being. Now studies are showing the link between periodontal (gum) disease and kidney problems. These studies have shown that people who have gum disease are not only more likely to suffer from kidney disease, they also have a higher mortality rate than those who suffer from kidney disease alone. People who suffer from kidney disease are also more likely to experience a number of oral health problems.

Studies

One such study looked at gum health and kidney function indicators in a group of around 4000 adults aged over 40. Taking into account factors such as people who smoke and also their age, it was shown that those who had lost teeth had a much higher chance of suffering from chronic kidney disease than those who still had their natural teeth.

Those who suffer from kidney disease could also suffer from oral health problems. These problems include tooth loss, inflammation in both the mouth and salivary glands, gum disease, larger amounts of plaque, chewing problems, bone loss in the jaw, bad breath and a dry mouth.  

Another study examined data from around 14,000 patients, and showed that in 10 years the mortality rates of those who suffered from gum disease and chronic kidney disease was 41%, compared to 31% of those who suffered from chronic kidney disease alone. This is quite significant, if it is ascertained that this is a causal association then by controlling and treating gum disease it might be possible to improve the health of those with kidney disease.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a very common problem, three out of every four adults in the UK over the age of 35 suffer from it, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss. A common symptom of gum disease is bleeding and/or sore gums during your daily tooth brushing. Other symptoms which are normally indicators of the early stages being untreated include bad breath, unusual or unpleasant tastes, loose teeth or gum abscesses.

You can help avoid gum disease simply by maintaining good oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day for about two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste and regular flossing. Regularly visiting your dentist means you can get the heads up on any signs of gum disease, and if there are any, you can start taking measures to ensure it doesn’t become a severe problem. Your dentist is the best tool you have for fighting off gum disease.

If you’ve already suffered from gum disease, you can restore your smile using one of our restorative treatments, such as Dental Implants or Denture Implants. These treatments not only fill the gap in your smile, they also can help reduce bone loss in your jaw due to missing teeth. Implant treatments aren’t only for people with gum disease, anyone who has lost teeth can have this treatment for a brilliant smile.

Midlands Smile Centres

Midlands Smile Centres is a dentist in Birmingham that offers Implant treatments and more. Call your local practice and talk to one of our friendly receptionists to book a check-up. We can check your dental health and if needed, we can discuss the plan for your treatment.