Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment or endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected.
The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth.
In addition, trauma to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left
untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

During root canal or endodontic treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of
the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Afterwards, the tooth is
restored with a crown or filling for protection. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits
the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.

Crack Tooth
Management

CRACKED TOOTH MANAGEMENT

Fractured cusp:
A corner of the tooth has broken off.

A crack running towards the centre of the tooth:
The tooth is still treatable.

Spilt tooth:
The tooth cannot be fixed.

Crack tooth can vary from a slight chip, fractured cusp, internal crack line to a vertical root fracture into the root. Treatment depends on the extend of the crack as well as the signs and symptoms.

Treatment can range from just a simple filling or bonding if the chip is small, crowning if the fractured cusp is too large to repair, to a possible root canal if the crack extends to the pulp chamber causing the pain. However, there are instances that a tooth need to be extracted if the crack has extended to the pulpal foor of the tooth. The dentist will do an assessment on the severity of the crack and advise you accordingly.

Bleaching

BLEACHING OF NON VITAL "BLACK" TOOTH

A non-vital or “dead” tooth is usually caused by trauma or tooth decay. Both causes have detrimental effects on the health of the pulp tissue until the stage whereby the pulp is unable to repair itself. This will cause irreversible pulpal death.

Tooth darkening that starts from yellow, grey to black shades is a sign of a death tooth and discoloration is caused by “bruising” from the dying blood cells. Tooth darkening will not disappear on its own and it needs to be treated.

Pain can vary from non-existent, mild to acute pain and can present wit a sinus or abscess depending on the state of infection at that point of time.

Treatment depends on the extend of infection and prognosis of the tooth.

Root canal is performed if the patient does not want to remove the non-vital tooth. After root canal is completed, internal bleaching can then be done to try to bring the tooth back to its original color. A crown maybe indicated if bleaching is unsuccessful.
Extraction is indicated if the tooth is deemed unsalvageable.

Retreatment

RETREATMENT

There are many reasons why an initial root canal fails.

New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth.

Loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection.

Tooth sustains a fracture.

Curved canals that was insufficiently disinfected.

The placement of the crown or restoration was delayed after the initial root canal.

During retreatment, the dentist will remove the filling materials that were placed in the root canals during the first procedure. Your dentist then thoroughly examines the tooth, looking for additional canals or new infection. Your dentist will then removes any infection, cleans and shapes the canals. Once the tooth heals, a new crown or other restoration is placed on the tooth to protect it.

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