Root canal treatment in Market Harborough

Why a tooth needs root canal treatment

At the centre of each tooth is the pulp: a soft core of nerves and blood vessels that runs down through the roots. Deep decay, a leaking filling, a crack or a knock can let bacteria reach the pulp. Once it is irreversibly inflamed or infected, the body cannot heal it, and the infection eventually spreads through the root tip into the surrounding bone.

Root canal treatment deals with the problem at its source. The pulp space and the canals are cleaned, shaped, disinfected and filled, which removes the infection and prevents bacteria re-entering. With a sound final restoration, a root-treated tooth can last for many years and function like any other tooth.

Signs you may need treatment

• toothache that comes on by itself or keeps you awake at night;
• pain that lingers after hot or cold drinks;
• a tooth that is tender to bite or tap on;
• swelling of the gum or face, or a small spot (gum boil) that drains;
• a tooth that has darkened after an injury;
• an infection found on an X-ray, sometimes with no symptoms at all.

Several of these symptoms can also come from a crack, gum disease or even a sinus problem, so the first step is always a proper diagnosis. We only recommend root canal treatment when the tests show the tooth needs it and can be restored predictably.

What happens at the appointment

1. Numbing the tooth. Local anaesthetic is given and tested before we begin. You will feel pressure and vibration, but not sharp pain — if you do, say so and more anaesthetic is added.
2. Rubber dam. A thin rubber sheet is placed around the tooth. It keeps the area dry and clean, protects your airway and keeps the disinfecting solutions away from the rest of your mouth.
3. Finding and cleaning the canals. A small opening is made through the biting surface. Under the microscope the canals are located — including the narrow and extra canals that cause treatment to fail when they are missed — then measured electronically, shaped with fine flexible instruments and disinfected with activated irrigation.
4. Filling the canals. The cleaned canals are sealed with a root filling material. The access is closed with a strong temporary or permanent filling.
5. Restoring the tooth. Your own dentist normally places the final restoration. Back teeth usually need a crown or onlay, because a root-treated molar without one is prone to cracking.

Most teeth are completed in a single visit of 60 to 90 minutes. Heavily infected teeth or complex anatomy may need two visits, with an antibacterial dressing left inside the tooth in between.

Does it hurt?

For most patients the treatment itself feels much like a long filling. Pressure, vibration and the sensation of the rubber dam are normal; pain is not, and we stop and re-numb if you feel any. Patients who feel anxious are welcome to say so when they book — appointments are long enough to go at your pace.

Afterwards

The tooth and the gum around it are often a little tender for two or three days, particularly on biting. Ordinary painkillers from the chemist, taken as directed, are usually enough. Avoid chewing hard food on the tooth until it has its final restoration, and contact us if the pain increases rather than settles, if swelling develops or if a temporary filling comes out.

Why choose an endodontically focused practice

Root canal anatomy is unforgiving: a missed canal, an under-filled root or a leaking seal are the usual reasons a treatment fails. Our practice is set up for this work alone — microscope, ultrasonic instruments, electronic length measurement and appointment times long enough to do it once and do it well. If a tooth has a poor outlook we will tell you so before you commit to treatment; our page on saving your natural tooth explains how we weigh it up.