Demystifying root canal treatment by Dr Anthony Druttman

Demystifying root canal treatment

Many people have a deep-seated fear of root canal (endodontic) treatment. They will say “not as bad as a root canal” – as if it is one of the worst human experiences. Such fears are unfounded. In professional hands, root canal treatment is the best way to keep your natural teeth and preserve good dental health. By having better information about this treatment, you will understand why it is often called ‘the tooth saver’, says endodontics specialist Dr. Tony Druttman www.londonendo.co.uk

Life doesn’t always play us a fair hand. Most of us try to keep our teeth in reasonable condition because we know that long-term neglect can be painful, both in the mouth and pocket. Yet there are occasions when unnoticed changes take place to our teeth. We only become aware of this when we have dental pain or our dentist discovers an underlying problem during a routine inspection. The following advice about root canal treatment will help to put your mind at ease.

A dental microscope allows precise

inspection of the tooth root

Should anecdotal evidence influence you?

Very often patients describe their root canal experiences with terms like “it was very painful” and “I had to go back six times”. That’s unfortunate, but not the way things need to be. When carried out correctly, the endodontics procedure is no worse than having a normal filling, although it may take a little longer. People often agree to root canal treatment with reluctance, when there seems to be little other choice. In fact it is the best solution in cases of substantial dental damage or decay. Advice by a dentist will give you a clearer picture than advice by other patients.

Why do teeth need root treatment?

The nerve and blood vessels in the tooth (known as ‘dental pulp’) are there to help the tooth grow to maturity. They protect against bacteria within the body. Bacteria play a defensive role in the general mouth area, but can become destructive when they attack the body via the dental pulp or through gum disease.

In fact, recent research has found a correlation between gum disease and coronary heart disease. Bacteria cause decay in teeth. When the decay is deep, it can allow bacteria to invade the dental pulp – the living tissue inside your teeth. Your dentist removes the decay in the tooth to protect the pulp and to restore the function and appearance of the tooth. However repeated bacterial attacks can weaken the pulp to such an extent that the nerve can no longer recover, and so the pulp dies.

How do you know if something is wrong?

The point is – you don’t always know. Different nerve systems within the pulp will cause the tooth to respond in different ways. The nerve may die quietly and never cause any symptoms. It may be a chance x-ray that alerts the dentist to a problem. Alternatively the dying nerve may cause a great deal of pain and be very difficult to locate. When the nerve becomes irreversibly damaged, then either the pulp or the tooth has to be removed.

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BIO:

Dr Anthony Druttman is a specialist in Root Canal Treatment, operating from two practices in Central London UK. He offers Endodontics services to other dentists as well as directly to patients.

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