Saving teeth
Fillings and root canal treatment
Your own tooth is always better than any replacement. As long as there is enough structure left it gets filled, and when the nerve is involved the tooth is saved with a root canal rather than taken out.
Why your own tooth counts
No replacement is as good as the tooth you were born with. So it is kept as long as that makes sense, and only removed when nothing holds any more.
Fillings
The decay is removed completely and the tooth is built back up with composite, shade-matched to the tooth. As a rule this is done in one session.
The limit is where too little tooth structure is left. A large filling in a badly broken down tooth does not hold up to chewing in the long run, and at that point a crown is the more honest solution.
Fillings carry a two-year guarantee.
Root canal treatment
When decay has reached the nerve, or the nerve has died after an injury, the tissue inside the tooth becomes inflamed. That is the pain which gets worse at night and which painkillers hold off for shorter and shorter stretches.
In a root canal the channels inside the tooth are cleaned, disinfected and sealed. The tooth stays, just without a living nerve.
Afterwards
A root-treated tooth is more brittle than a living one, because it no longer has its supply from inside. In many cases it therefore gets a crown, so it does not fracture under the chewing load.
Whether that is necessary depends on how much structure is left and where in the jaw the tooth sits.
The cheapest moment is early
Decay does not hurt while it is small. By the time it does, it is usually already close to the nerve.
The first examination is free, and that is exactly what it is for: to see what can still be dealt with in one short session.
Questions and answers
What people ask most often
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure itself is carried out under local anaesthetic and is not painful. The pain most people associate with it comes from the inflammation beforehand, not from the treatment. That is exactly the pain the treatment removes.
Why does the anaesthetic sometimes work less well?
During an acute infection the tissue is acidic, and that chemically weakens the anaesthetic. So in those cases the infection is treated first, before any further work. It is not something about you.
Will a root-treated tooth last?
Yes, if it is restored properly afterwards. A root-treated tooth is more brittle than a living one and often needs a crown so it can take the chewing load.
Why treat small decay when nothing hurts?
Because pain arrives late. By the time a tooth hurts, the decay is usually already close to the nerve. A small filling is one short session; a root canal is several.
Related treatments
Oral surgery
Oral surgery: procedures on the jaw and the gums
Oral surgery covers everything beyond routine dental treatment: difficult extractions, wisdom teeth, bone grafting and procedures on the gums. Dr. Shehu is a specialist in oral surgery.
Crowns and bridges
Crowns, bridges and dentures
When a tooth is too badly broken down to fill, or missing altogether, prosthetic work restores the function. Which solution fits depends on how many teeth are missing and how much bone is there.
The first consultation is free
An examination, a clear explanation of your options and a treatment plan, with no obligation. Message us on WhatsApp or give us a call.