ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Tandartsenpraktijk Arnout & Hobbelink in Amstelveen Randwijck.Vlakbij Amsterdam Buitenveldert, Amstelveen Elsrijk,Amsterdam Oud-Zuid en de Zuidas.

Many people still shudder at the thought of “root canal treatment”. This most likely dates back to a period when anaesthesia was less effective than it is today.

Thanks to modern numbing techniques, a root canal procedure can be performed pain-free. At Arnout & Hobbelink Dentists we are committed to making the procedure as comfortable as possible for you.

If you feel you have an infection it is important to contact a dentist promptly as such an infection can spread throughout the jaw, possibly resulting in loose teeth or even the loss of a tooth.

What is a root canal treatment?

Every tooth has one or more (root) canals containing a nerve. The nerve can become inflamed or infected due to a cavity, a fracture, a leaking filling or from trauma such as a knock to the tooth.

One of the first signs of an inflamed nerve is an increased sensitivity to hot and cold. Sometimes the nerve will heal itself. However, if the pain is so intense that pain medication barely helps, you have trouble sleeping or the pain flares up suddenly, it is unlikely that the infection will resolve itself. Root canal treatment will then be required to remove the inflamed nerve after which the surrounding canals are cleaned, filled and sealed.

  • PLEASE NOTE: Sometimes an infection may appear to have resolved itself when the pain disappears. However, the pain may disappear because the nerve has died and not because the infection has passed.

    Prolonged infection can cause a nerve to die. Sensitivity to hot and cold will be diminished and symptoms disappear. However, the dead nerve will start to rot causing infection to spread into the jaw. You may not always feel this process occurring. So if you feel pain or felt pain previously, be sure to contact your dentist to check for problems with an x-ray.

How can I recognise the symptoms of an inflamed root canal?

Possible symptoms are:

  • Long-term sensitivity to hot and cold drinks

  • Pain when biting or chewing

  • Sudden pain during the day

  • Pain that keeps you awake at night

  • PLEASE NOTE:Not every infection causes pain. An infected root canal can sometimes only be determined by taking an x-ray.

  • Always contact your dentist if you feel pain or did feel pain previously. They can assess the situation and take an x-ray.

  • Make sure to get dental checkups twice a year and to maintain good oral hygiene.

Why do I need root canal treatment?

Infected tissue in your root canal will not heal itself and may cause infection to spread to the jaw bone. This can result in teeth becoming loose or even falling out.

It is important to have the infected tissue removed by undergoing root canal treatment. The infection can cause problems elsewhere in your body such as with blood vessels, heart valves or prosthetics.

Don’t ignore infections such as these, even if you are not experiencing pain or other symptoms.

What can I expect from root canal treatment at Arnout & Hobbelink Dentists?

  • STEP 1 – The dentist will take an x-ray, examine the tooth and give you a diagnosis.

  • STEP 2 – The area will be numbed. We take great care to make sure the procedure is pain-free for you.

  • STEP 3 – Once we are certain that the area is completely numb we open the tooth. The dentist wears magnifying glasses and/or uses a microscope to work precisely to be sure that all canals are found and treated as needed.

Uitleg stappen wortelkanaalbehandeling tandarts. Blijf niet rondlopen met een ontsteking. Let op: niet elke ontsteking doet pijn. Neem contact op met uw tandarts als u vermoed dat u een ontsteking heeft. Daarmee voorkomt u grotere schade aan uw gebit. - Tandartsenpraktijk Arnout & Hobbelink - Amsterdam - ahtandartsen.nl
  • Depending on the situation, the procedure will be performed in either one or two sessions.

    Sometimes it is better to remove the nerve in the first session and to fill the canal in a second session. Sometimes the procedure is completed within one session. The dentist will discuss this with you.

  • How long the procedure will take depends on the amount of canals a tooth has.

    Every tooth is anatomically unique. Teeth towards the front of your mouth usually have just one canal. Molars generally have more. The procedure will usually take between 30 minutes to two hours.

  • You may experience some pain after the procedure but painkillers will help.

    Your dentist will inform you about this.

What is the correct way to clean my teeth?

It is best to brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening, just before going to bed. This removes bacteria that would otherwise damage your teeth during the night. Brushing your teeth removes plaque build-up, so be sure to brush every tooth surface that you can reach.

To remove plaque from between teeth (which generally can’t be reached with a toothbrush), use dental floss, toothpicks or interdental brushes. Which of those methods works best for you will depend on the space between your teeth. Arnout & Hobbelink Dentists can give you personalised advice on which methods are most suitable for you.