Name: Endodontics
Brand: Warwick Lodge Specialist Dentistry
Price: 385 GBP
Rating: 4.9 (103 reviews)

When is a root canal required?

Root canal treatment (or endodontics) is required when there is an infection deep within your tooth. The blood or nerve supply may be infected either due to an injury or a severe cavity. You may not experience any pain or discomfort during the early stages of an infection, however if your tooth changes colour and darkens that is a sign that your tooth nerve is in danger of dying. If left untreated, this kind of infection can not only be very painful, but can lead to a tooth abscess or even tooth loss.

Five signs of infection:

Serious toothache when eating, or when you put pressure on the tooth. Does it hurt when you bite down hard?
Excessively sensitive teeth. Does the sensitive pain linger after the initial contact with hot or cold foods or drinks?
Darkening of your tooth. Has your tooth changed colour? This may be a sign of the nerve dying.
A small bump on the gum, close to the painful tooth.
Tender or swollen gums around the tooth.

What does treatment involve?

Root canal treatment removes all of the infection from the tooth, before sealing the tooth and restoring you back to good oral health. Endodontic treatment is always carried out by a specialist clinician at Warwick Lodge and an anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable through the process.

At your initial consultation we will take an x ray to assess the status of the infection. At your treatment appointment a local anaesthetic is administered to the area and a piece of rubber material called a ‘rubber dam’ is placed around the tooth the keep it dry and accessible throughout the procedure. Once you are fully anaesthetised, your dentist will use specially designed tools to remove the infected tissue. Once it is clear, a rubber compound is used to fill the tooth where the root canal tissue previously was. The tooth is usually dressed with a temporary filling and a permanent restoration provided by your own dentist. Treatment may need to be completed over more than one visit particularly if the treatment is complex or there is a pre-existing infeciton.

How do I avoid a root canal?

Root canal treatment can be avoided by practicing good dental care. Regular visits to your general dentist for check ups mean that they are in a good position to pick up on any problems you may not have noticed. They will check any current fillings or crowns for damage or cracks. By treating issues in the early stages you avoid infections and further complications that would ultimately lead to endodontic treatment.

Tooth decay is one of the common reasons for root canal infections. You can keep tooth decay at bay by brushing and flossing regularly, chewing sugar-free gum between meals and reducing the amount of fizzy drinks and sugar in your diet.

If you are experiencing tooth pain, contact Warwick Lodge Specialist Dentistry on 01702 582561 today to see if you require root canal treatment.

Amira Altigani
Dentist with a Special Interest in Endodontics

BDS (Sharjah) 2014, DClinDent, MEndo RCS(Edin)
GDC no. 290423

Amira graduated as a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the School of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, in 2014. She worked two years in general practise, in various fields of dentistry before getting enrolled at the University of Sheffield where she completed her DClindent in Endodontics. During her time there, she trained at Charles Clifford Dental Hospital where she was also a part-time demonstrator in endodontics. She gained her Membership of the Faculty of Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2020.

Refer a patient

Endodontics

When is a root canal required?

Five signs of infection:

What does treatment involve?

How do I avoid a root canal?

Meet our team who offer Endodontic treatment at Warwick Lodge Specialist Centre:

Amira AltiganiDentist with a Special Interest in Endodontics

Amira Altigani
Dentist with a Special Interest in Endodontics