Root Canal Procedure with Dr. Alter Johannesburg
Specialists in Endodontic Root Canal Therapy
The fine channel inside the tooth is referred to as the root canal. This canal contains what’s known as Dental Pulp, a substance made up from and consisting of many nerves and blood vessels. If this pulp becomes infected, diseased or dies, tooth ache is common and can become extremely prominent and painful if an abscess occurs. In past dental practice, these teeth would have simply been extracted, however with modern techniques and equipment, root canal treatment Johannesburg can save the tooth.
How do I Know if I Need a Root Canal?
Not all tooth ache or types of tooth pain indicate the need to be treated for a root canal, however there are typical signs you can watch out for whereby the infection is serious enough to require treatment for Root Canal in Johannesburg. You should seek advice from qualified and professional dental experts that specialises in this field if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms relating to pain in the tooth or teeth:
Pain in the tooth when eating or applying pressure.
Teeth that become darker in colour.
Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink and with constant throbbing and/or sharp pain in the affected areas.
Small bumps or pimple like spots that become visible near the area of teeth pain, mainly on the main part of the gum.
Swelling or tenderness in the mouth or locally in the gums near the problematic tooth.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, please feel free to contact our friendly team at Dr. Alter Dental Clinic and we will be happy to access your symptoms and recommend the appropriate options for treatment.
So How does the Dental Pulp get infected?
There are numerous reasons why the pulp in your tooth could become diseased or infected and the cause of the problem will be expertly and correctly diagnosed by the dentist in charge of your treatment.
Sometimes there is no visible or apparent cause yet some of the more common reasons for needing a Root Canal can be determined by our previous experience in treating such cases. Such as >>>
Deep fillings or Cavities.
Previous or past trauma which affected your teeth.
Any previous or recent fractures to your teeth.
Tooth Decay.
If you have cracked or chipped your tooth.
Although it may sometimes be hard to determine the exact cause of the pain, common symptoms may include severe pain in the tooth itself or soreness and swelling of the gums and affected areas. Sensitivity to hot and cold, discolouration of the tooth or any redness of the gum is usually a tell tale sign that root canal treatment is necessary.
Why is Root Canal Treatment a good option?
There is one very good reason why being treated for a root canal is so important and that is simple; Artificial teeth will never be as practical or as strong as our own natural teeth.
For any Root Canal therapy or Endodontic treatment in Johannesburg, the main aim is to save the tooth that has been badly decayed or damaged due to disease or trauma and ultimately avoid the need for extraction and the larger costs associated with false or artificial teeth implants.
Artificial teeth are not as effective when it comes to chewing or biting and our natural teeth are far stronger. Spaces left from a missing tooth could allow the other teeth in the mouth to move into the gap and can make chewing, eating or biting more difficult. As a result, this could potentially lead to further decay or gum disease in the future.
What is the process for a Root Canal?
Upon fully and accurately diagnosing your requirement for Root Canal dental surgery, there are 3 main steps to the procedure which will be performed by Dr. Alter.
Under general anaesthetic, the first initial step is to remove the infected pulp and fully clean and disinfect the space. The open canal is then shaped using a fine grade dental file before finally washing the canals with a sterilising solution and applying a dental filling to seal the tooth.
We recommend treating a Root Canal problem as soon as possible after identifying an issue as this will greatly improve the chances of a successful procedure. Depending on the severity of the issue, several visits or follow up appointments may be required with the dentist and in cases whereby infection is present, antibiotics can be prescribed.