The naturally occurring space within the root of a tooth is called the root canal. The pulp tissue which provides nourishment to the tooth is found within these canals. Sometimes this tissue gets infected either by the bacteria from an untreated tooth cavity or when the tissue gets damaged due to trauma or tooth fracture. This leads to tissue inflammation which can get very painful if left untreated. The branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the pulp tissue is called endodontics and the procedure to remove the infected pulp is called endodontic treatment or root canal treatment.
It is advisable to perform root canal treatment as soon as the infection is detected. If left untreated, the infected pulp can damage the tooth bone which leads to the formation of an abscess and finally results in extraction of the natural tooth. In a root canal treatment, your dentist from Birkenhead will remove the infected pulp tissue, treat the infection, clean out the tooth canal and fill the empty canal with material called gutta percha to prevent any further infection from setting in.
An uncomplicated root canal treatment can often be completed in just one dental visit, but if the infection is complex and has affected multiple teeth, you may need more than one consultation to complete the procedure. After the treatment, your tooth will feel sore and sensitive for a few days which will eventually disappear. Over-the-counter painkillers can also be taken to get relief from the pain.
There has always been a notion that root canal treatment is very painful and hence many people suffer an infected tooth in silence fearing the pain. But this is not true; the dentist will always give a mild local anaesthetic to numb the region, hence you will not feel any pain during the procedure.
The jaw joint is also known as temporomandibular joint and consists of two bones – the upper temporal bone and the lower mandible separated by an articular disc. One of the most common problems that affect the jaw joint is temporomandibular dysfunction. In this condition, the jaw muscles become more tense than normal. Sometimes you can experience jaw problems if you have undergone tooth extraction, especially those present at the back of the mouth.
Bad breath or halitosis is an embarrassing condition that affects hundreds of people worldwide. It is not necessary to suffer this condition in silence as there are many effective cures available to tackle this problem. In most cases, the root cause of bad breath is the anaerobic oral bacteria which have accumulated in the person’s mouth, between the teeth and gums.
Metal dental braces are now replaced with a series of clear and removable aligners. Nowadays dentists are using this method to straighten out the misaligned teeth in people. Metal braces are painful and cannot be removed by the patient. They can also cause bleeding and other complications in some people.