When it comes to generalised dental treatment, there are few options available that invoke concern as much as a root canal does.

This is unfortunate, as root canals have been a part of dental care for over 100 years, and in that time, they have saved countless smiles and preserved damaged teeth. However, our team at Dublin 18 Dental Rooms has a theory as to why root canals are so unpopular, and it lies in misinformation.

At Dublin 18 Dental Rooms, our dentist Dublin has performed hundreds of root canal procedures and can personally attest to how useful this treatment is for patients who have a severely damaged tooth or have recently suffered from a dental abscess.

With this in mind, it is important to expand a little bit on what is involved in a typical root canal, so here, our dentist Dublin provides a short guide.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is simply the process of our dentist Dublin drilling down through the tooth to reach the root, or the pulp, which is likely to be infected should you need this treatment. It falls under the category of dental treatment known as endodontics.

It is usually recommended as part of the treatment for dental abscesses or for repairing teeth that have been damaged severely. It can also be used to minimise sensitivity, but this is usually a last resort.

The process

The process of performing a root canal will usually start with an x-ray so that our team can assess the extent of the abscess or the damage to the tooth. Then we will numb the area with a local anaesthetic, or if you are a nervous patient, general anaesthesia or a sedation method will be used. After this, we will drill down through the tooth to reach the pulp and use a set of small scraping brushes to remove any source of infection, essentially cleaning the tooth from the inside. Once we are happy with this, we will fill the canal with a substance known as gutta-percha and top this newly filled tooth off with either a filling or a crown. Depending on how many roots need cleaning, this process may be spread over multiple appointments.

Aftercare

The aftercare of a root canal is pretty straightforward. You will still need to clean your teeth as you did before the root canal, but be aware that the area may be sensitive for a few days, which is normal. You should also avoid having your teeth professionally whitened for at least one month after a root canal.

Longevity

If you maintain good oral hygiene and attend dental checkups as and when you need to, the results of the root canal can easily last the rest of your life without the recurrence of an infection. However, if you have concerns that your root canal is failing, please make an appointment to see our emergency dental team as soon as possible, and we will assess the area to explore whether an abscess is forming or the tooth is damaged.