At Larcholme Dental Practice in Wolverhampton, we always strive to protect your natural teeth for as long as possible. We know they are the best set you will ever have. 

We will always aim to educate our patients on best practices for oral hygiene so we can protect our teeth for a long time. We also recommend regular visits to the dentist to pick up early warning signs.

Sometimes things can occur in our mouth, which may jeopardize the health of our natural teeth and a Root Canal. Your tooth may require endodontic treatment. 

Why May I Need A Root Canal?

Root canals on teeth are done by dentists when they have decayed to the core (pulp of the tooth). The dental pulp is at the centre of every tooth. It’s a soft area that contains the nerve, connective tissues and blood vessels. The pulps’ primary purpose is to give you sensory feedback for when you contact hot and cold substances.

When cavities appear in our teeth, it means bacteria can start to enter these pockets and attack the sensitive parts of our teeth. Patients may not find early-stage cavities as there is no associated pain. As a rule of thumb, by the time you start to feel pain, your dental problem may have moved onto a more complicated stage, but Dentists can spot the early warning signs.

Why Remove The Pulp?

It’s essential to remove the pulp once it has become infected because it will break down. This infection will develop and lead to pus-filled abscesses, which can be very painful. It is not uncommon also for swelling to appear around the head, face and mouth, which leads to further discomfort and pain. 

We will enter your tooth with a root canal to clear out the decay (and pulp) and then use a root filling to prevent further infection (effectively plugging up the holes). Root canals can be lengthy. The estimated time of the procedure will depend on your case and the severity of the decay.

How Can I Prevent Needing a Root Canal?

It would be best to have good oral hygiene habits to stop bacteria and plaque build-up on your teeth. By thoroughly cleaning your teeth, you will reduce the likelihood of tooth decay and cavities. Even though this won’t eliminate the chance this can happen, it will improve your overall dental health. It will mean you are less likely to have dental problems.

It is recommended you visit your dentist at least twice a year (your dentist may recommend further visits dependent on your dental health). The dentist or hygienist will check the health of your mouth and spot any potential problems with your teeth/gums. The dental check-up forms an essential part of your overall dental care. It can help to prevent dental issues from progressing.

Should I Have a Root Canal or Extraction?

We always strive to save natural teeth in the first instance. Depending on how severe your tooth is, it might not be savable. Then a dental extraction may be required as a last resort (we will discuss with you what this will mean going forward).

Will a Root Canal Hurt?

Because it will be by the tooth’s nerve, there will be some slight discomfort. We will always numb the area we are treating before starting. Our dentists will work at a slow pace, ensure that you are happy throughout the procedure, and make sure it is as pain-free as possible.

We will place what is known as a rubber dam around the tooth to keep the tooth dry during the treatment and prevent you from breathing in or swallowing any of the materials used during the treatment. We will go through the top of the tooth (crown) to access the soft tissue and then remove the remaining infected pulp.

We will clean the inside of the tooth and make the hole of the tooth larger in preparation for a root filling. We use special dental files to enlarge the canal to a regular shape to complete a root filling.

Your canine and front incisors usually only have one root canal. In contrast, the back molar and premolars can have two to three root canals. The more root canals there are, the more complex and time-consuming the treatment. Some root canal treatments may need to be done over several appointments. We will do a temporary filling for protection.

On-going Protection

After you have had a root canal and a root filling, your tooth will not be as strong as it used to be and can be prone to fracturing, especially if put under a lot of pressure. The dentist may fit a dental crown on the tooth for protection.

Book Your Dental Assessment Today

If you are worried, need a root canal, or have started to experience dental pain, please call us and book your dental assessment today.