Root canal is the procedure whereby we remove an infected nerve from a tooth. It is no more painful than a dental filling because we give anaesthetic to the applied tooth. Root canals are usually needed when there is extensive decay on the tooth, a fractured tooth or repeated dental procedures on the tooth. It requires at least three appointments to ensure the root canal is completed nicely. The procedure involves cleaning out the infected nerve, disinfecting the tooth and then sealing the tooth with a special rubber material. Your dentist will take you through each step before the procedure. Signs that you need a root canal include: sensitivity to hot, tenderness to touch, discolouration of the tooth, swelling and drainage. The cost of root canal varies depending on the tooth to be treated. Back molar teeth are more complex so they cost more than front teeth. Root canals help save your original tooth, avoid extraction, save your smile and restore your chewing function. Thanks to modern technology, patients who have root canal describe it as a virtually pain free procedure.
