When you have an infection in the center of your tooth, this is when you will need endodontics at Harley Street. The treatment needed to get rid of these infections is usually a root canal. Having this done could prevent your infected tooth from being removed, so it is very beneficial to contact us if you think you have an infected tooth.
What’s the process?
When you have endodontics on Harley Street, we may begin by taking x-rays of the affected tooth, this allows us to see the extent of the damage and see a clear picture. This treatment is usually done under local anaesthetic, however, if your tooth is severely damaged to the point of it dying, it will no longer be sensitive, meaning you won’t need it.
Once this is done, your dentist will place a rubber sheet around your tooth to make sure it stays dry throughout the treatment. This is beneficial as it also prevents you from swallowing any of the chemicals that may be used. We will then open your tooth through the top of it, this allows us to have access to the soft tissue at the center of the tooth. This is where the dentist will see the infection and will remove any pulp inside the tooth that is infected.
Cleaning and filling the tooth after removing the infected pulp is vital in lowering the probability of the infection coming back. After we have cleaned the area, we will enlarge your root canal to make more space for it to be filled. The filling process usually happens over a number of visits due to us needing to enlarge the area gradually first before filling it back in.
Why would I need a root canal treatment?
Harley Street endodontics focuses on problems in the center/inside of the tooth, which is where your infection will be if you need a root canal. There are many reasons why people’s teeth get infected, but it is usually simply down to decay or trauma to the teeth.
Chipped or cracked tooth
If you have an accident and your teeth get damaged, this can expose the inner layers to more bacteria meaning more risk of infection. This is why it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible after you have damaged your tooth. If the infection goes unnoticed, it can spread deep into the tooth and sometimes surrounding teeth.
Deep decay
If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, and don’t go to the dentist regularly, then decay can embed itself deep into your teeth. This decay can cause many issues such as discolouration, weakening of the tooth, and sometimes, infection. If your tooth does get infected due to the deep decay, this is when you would need a root canal treatment.
If you are worried about getting a root canal treatment, there is nothing to be ashamed of, we at Harley Street Dental Clinic take pride in making sure our patients are as comfortable and happy as possible throughout any treatment.