Sudden toothache, swelling or sensitivity to hot and cold. A root canal is required when tooth decay has penetrated inside the tooth, which contains a bundle of nerve endings called dental pulp. The sooner you come and see us about this, the sooner we can eliminate the pain.

Root canal treatment is gentle and high-tech, though it can take a while, so do bring some listening material to keep you entertained. It’s usually carried out under local anaesthetic, but we also offer sedation if required. We’ll isolate your tooth with a rubber dam, and ensure it’s completely numb. The procedure involves opening up the tooth and removing the infected pulp. Then we disinfect it and seal it with a flexible material called gutta percha.

Root canal treatment saves your natural tooth – always the best option. But it can leave it weaker than before, so you may need to return for a dental crown. Root canal treatment can also cause your tooth to darken, so we may recommend internal bleaching and a professional whitening treatment to fully restore your smile

The causes of tooth infection are varied – deep decay due to cavities or gum disease, cracked fillings or crowns, and damage as a result of trauma, or even teeth grinding. Whatever the reason, a root canal treatment will prevent the need for tooth extraction and future costly treatments.

Root canal symptoms often come in two waves. When the pulp becomes infected, early signs that you might need endodontic treatment include toothache, sensitive teeth to hot and cold foods, and pain when eating and drinking. When the infected pulp dies, these symptoms may temporarily subside – but don’t be tempted to put off seeing your dentist! When the infection spreads to the root canal, those early symptoms come back – this time accompanied by pain and swelling to the face and gums, and pus around the infected tooth, which will often appear dark in colour. In this scenario, contact Horsforth Dental immediately for an emergency dentist appointment.

You can carry on as normal once the anaesthetic has worn off, though the full healing period will take around a week – just be careful with what you eat and maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine.