Posts tagged “Root canal”

Patients from Chiswick celebrate William Shakespeare Day at Sparkle Dental Boutique

April 26th, 2012

In Much Ado About Nothing there is a quote that says, “There was never yet philosopher that could endure the toothache patiently.” On a basic level this means that, although philosophers spend a lot of their time engaged in intellectual thought, if they get toothache they’ll still whinge as much as the next person. That’s understandable really – toothache is a real pain for thousands of people, philosophers or otherwise. On William Shakespeare Day, now been and gone, patients needn’t have endured toothache patiently – patients from Chiswick and further afield can visit the dentist for a solution.

Root canal treatment is a procedure that can relieve tooth pain and potentially save your teeth. Each of your teeth has one or more “canals” that run from the root to the tip. These are filled with pulp consisting of nerves and blood vessels. If the tooth enamel decays for any reason, it can leave the sensitive canals exposed and they can become infected. This is a cause of toothache and needs to be assessed by your dentist. The alternative could be losing a tooth.

If you require root canal treatment the procedure begins with your dentist drilling into the tooth to access the infected pulp. Patients will not feel any pain as local anaesthetic will be used. The infected pulp is carefully removed and the dentist will then put an antiseptic solution into the canal to ensure all bacteria is removed. The tooth will then be filled with dental putty to stop bacteria from returning, and a crown will eventually be put on the tooth to seal it.

The whole procedure is relatively simple and completely painless. Some moderate discomfort can be expected when the anaesthetic wears off, but this can be combated with painkillers. The success rate of this procedure is high, but if you have any doubts please speak to our and we will be happy to assist.

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How Root Canal Treatment Could Save the Smile of Countless Residents in Brentford

October 11th, 2011

An Emnid survey of 2,000 people showed that over 80% of participants valued a healthy smile.  So when it comes to having teeth removed this is one of the worst things that can happen when trying to preserve your smile.  However, in many cases, there is the option of root canal treatment which can save your tooth instead of removing it.

Lots of patients in Brentford are just not sure what root canal treatment actually is, believing that tooth removal is the only way to go – this is not true.  On the other hand those who do know what it entails decide against having the treatment, through the belief that it is a painful experience. In actual fact it is relatively pain-free with the addition of properly administered anaesthetic, much like a simple filling procedure.

Teeth can become infected through injury and general decay. When a tooth becomes infected the soft tissue inside becomes inflamed and if left untreated can lead to an abscess, which will cause you pain and discomfort.

So what exactly is root canal treatment?

The procedure is completed within one or two visits to the dentist.  Firstly, the infected tissue is removed and the root canal is then cleaned using very fine instruments to prepare it for filling.  On your second visit to the dentist the dentist will then fit the filling into the tooth and a crown may also be fitted, to give the tooth some extra protection if needed.  After the root canal treatment is complete the newly fixed tooth may feel slightly tender for a few days after.  This discomfort can be treated with normal painkillers before the pain eventually subsides.

The treatment has a hugely impressive success rate of around 95% when performed by a qualified dentist and is certainly a viable alternative to having your teeth removed should they become infected.  It is a now simple and effective procedure in modern dentistry, so next time you think you have to get that tooth removed – remember that root canal treatment could save your smile.

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Your Kew dentist is here to tell you about the risks swimming pools pose to your dental health

September 15th, 2011

Everyone enjoys swimming and it’s proven that regular trips to the swimming pool can severely help people’s health. But have you ever though of how a relaxing swim at your local pool could lead to the need for treatment such as root canal treatment? Well, studies made by the New York University College of Dentistry have recently discovered that pools which are poorly maintained can lead to rapid dental enamel erosion.

While this means public swimming pools which are professionally maintained on a regular basis should be fine, those who own private swimming pools in their back yard should meet this news with worry.

The news comes from a report by Dr Leila Jahangiri, Steven Pigliacelli and Dr Ross Kerr, entitled ‘Severe and Rapid Erosion of Dental Enamel from Swimming: A Clinical Report’. The report was first made due to the complaints of a 52 year old male patient who, over a period of just five months during 2010, had signs of extremely sensitive teeth, dark staining and rapid enamel loss.

Taking into account the addition of a 90 minute swimming session the patient started not long before the complaints began, as well as the fact that little else had changed in his lifestyle and no professional maintenance was carried out on the pool, Dr Leila Jahangiri came to the conclusion that the problems were directly linked to the chlorine in the pool.

Chlorine is effectively a poison in high quantities, and while there’s no risk of pools reaching a level which could pose a serious danger to health, unless pools receive regular monitoring regarding chlorine levels it can prove to be dangerous for teeth.

Dr Jahangiri warns: “Improperly maintained pool chlorination in swimming pools can cause rapid and excessive erosion of dental enamel. It is a difficult balance to maintain home pools properly, pool chlorine and pH levels need to be monitored and maintained on a weekly basis.”

Sparkle Dental Boutique, Kew will always try to stay on top of the latest guidelines regarding your oral health. If you notice any issues do not hesitate to drop in for a check up. We have a dental hygienist on hand and root canal treatment and other such restorative treatments can help restore most dental issues.

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What is root canal treatment anyway?

August 2nd, 2011

Throughout our lives, you might have encountered several forms of dental treatment. This might have come in the form of braces, silver fillings or even implants. The sound of the dentist’s drill might scare you silly due to its demonic portrayal in such films as “Marathon Man”. But, a dentist is there to help you, not hurt you and will not glare at you with malevolent intentions as Laurence Olivier did to helpless Dustin Hoffman. No matter how you look at the matter, even if you live in the Chiswick area there are some dental procedures which not one person looks forward to with root canal treatment being a prime candidate.

Within Chiswick’s  area, there are a number of dentists which offer this form of treatment. But what is it?

Questions answered

Root canal treatment might be required when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected and it is required in order to save the tooth. You might notice that you require treatment after you start feeling prolonged sensitivity, an unpleasant taste in your mouth or your face starts to swell. However, you might not notice you have an infection and no pain is felt at all. But when an infection happens, swift action needs to be taken.

As the soft tissue of the tooth (otherwise known as pulp) becomes infected which could have happened due to a consequence of physical trauma to the tooth, an abscess might occur which will not go away without dental treatment.

The treatment explained and how Sparkle Dental can help

Completed over the course of two appointments, it is on your first visit that any infection is removed with the abscesses drained and the tooth smoothed so that it can have a permanent filling. However, a temporary filling is put in place with the permanent filling happening on your second visit. It is on this second visit that further abscesses and infections are checked for.

If you are thinking about having root canal treatment carried out on yourself or have any questions about this procedure at all, by asking your local dentist in Chiswick will quench any fears you have about this procedure which needn’t be as stressful as you imagine.

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Getting to the Root of the Problem

May 4th, 2011

Mentioning to someone you’re undergoing root canal treatment and the normal reaction is a quick intake of breath, several murmurs of sympathy, and an expression that says, ‘I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes’.  But what really happens during a root canal procedure and why is it important to undergo the treatment?  Quite simply, root canal is an effective way of dealing with bacterial infection caused either by tooth decay, gum disease or injury.  If left untreated, a painful abscess can form on the tooth, causing permanent damage and even tooth loss.  During the surgery, your dentist enters the problem tooth through a hole so as to remove the dead or infected area.  But don’t panic!  The procedure sounds a lot worse than it actually feels – in fact, discomfort experienced from an untreated tooth will in the long term be far more painful.

But I can’t take time out to undergo surgery!

Contrary to the nightmarish stereotype, root canal procedures are comparable to having a routine filling.  Furthermore no hospital visit or overnight stay is necessary.  Patients are given a local anaesthetic that allows them to remain conscious throughout the entire treatment and to go home directly afterwards.  Treatment takes place within those surgeries offering the service.  So if you’ve been faced with the prospect of losing your tooth by abstraction, check out your local surgery in Kew, where you can take advice from dentists experienced in offering root canal.  Rather than settling for dentures before your time, root canal surgery prolongs the life of your tooth for as long as ten years after treatment.

Sparkle Dental Boutique are here to add a little ‘sparkle’ to your smile

Why put up with gaps, implants or bridges when root canal gives you the options to keep your own smile – and to keep on smiling!

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The Pearl of the Adriatic

May 8th, 2009

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On a recent trip to Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic, one of Eastern Europe’s best old towns, it was like Venice without the canals!

The highlight of the trip in Dubrovnik was strolling the scenic mile around the Old Town’s city walls, the root or heart of the city. The monumental walls that encircle Dubrovnik punctuated by towers and overlooking the sea, are undoubtedly the city’s most famous feature.

With talk of roots and canals…root canal treatment comes to mind!

Sunita Verma, Principal at Sparkle Dental Boutique, Chiswick says, “Root canal treatment is a procedure needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (pulp) is infected through decay or injury. In the early stages, you may not feel any pain but sometimes the tooth may darken in colour which is a sign that the nerve of the tooth has died or is dying. If the nerve supply of the tooth becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth and an abscess may form.”

Sunita goes on to say, “An abscess is an inflamed area and sometimes it looks like a bubble in which pus collects which can cause swelling of the tissues around the tooth. The symptoms of an abscess can range from dull ache to severe pain, sensitivity to hot and cold and the tooth may be tender when you bite. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.”

What does the treatment involve?

The aim of the treatment is to remove all infection from the root canal. The root is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection over 2 or 3 visits.

At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed. Any abscesses, which may be present, will also be drained at this time. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.

The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled. This tooth is now sometimes referred to as a `dead’ tooth. As a dead tooth is more brittle, it may be necessary to restore the tooth with a crown to provide extra support and strength to the tooth.

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