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Toothaches are never welcome. But the pain is a warning sign there’s something wrong with your teeth— a sign you shouldn’t ignore.

Dental pain is often a symptom of an infection. You may experience sensitivity when biting into something particularly hot or cold, or the throbbing pain could put you off every meal. Before the discomfort makes you completely miserable, it’s important to come and see us to learn the cause.

If you have an infection inside your tooth, we’ll perform a root canal treatment to remove the bacteria causing your pain. Before you rush to see us, you’ll probably want some questions answered, like “does a root canal treatment hurt?” and “what happens if I don’t get a root canal treatment?”

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions about root canal treatments.

What Causes Root Canal Infections?

Root canal infections are caused by bacteria in your tooth. The bacteria get into your tooth through cracks and chips, or through cavities caused by tooth decay.

Inside every tooth, there’s something called the ‘pulp chamber.’ This contains your tooth’s living connective tissue, nerve endings, and cells. The dental pulp continues right down in your tooth’s root canals. Depending on the tooth, you can have up to four canals.

What Is a Root Canal Treatment?

A root canal treatment is a procedure to save your tooth by removing infected matter from your tooth. Although root canal treatments are often talked about negatively, they are highly effective.

We use the latest technology and techniques to make the process brief and simple for you. The procedure starts with the removal of the bacteria causing the infection. Once we’ve treated the inside of your tooth, we’ll plug it using a natural material called gutta-percha.

Once we’ve cleared the infection, we’ll close your tooth with a filling. If necessary, we may suggest placing a dental crown to protect the tooth from further damage.

Do Root Canal Treatments Hurt?

It’s often assumed that a root canal treatment hurts. In fact, when you mention the fact you need the procedure to most people, they’ll probably wince. The truth is that the pain and discomfort are actually caused by the infection, and the treatment will stop this.

We use anaesthetic to help manage your comfort levels during your treatment. Additionally, the treatment techniques we use help minimise discomfort.

What Happens If I Don’t Get a Root Canal Treatment?

It’s easy to think that if you ignore your toothache, it might go away on its own. But if you have a root canal infection, the discomfort will only get worse.

Untreated, your infection will kill your tooth. Although, at this stage, the discomfort may stop, this is likely to be brief. The pain will return, and the infection will move to other parts of your mouth.

Your dental infection will move from the dead tooth, spreading to neighbouring teeth, gums, and jaw. The infection will cause abscesses and could spread to your vital organs through the bloodstream.

You may think that if you remove the affected tooth, it will fix the problem. Although the infection will have gone away, you’ll be left with an increased risk of several dental complications, including dental drift and tooth decay.

Root Canal Treatments at Nu Dental

At Nu Dental, we want to ensure you feel comfortable throughout your root canal treatment. We take the time to discuss your procedure, so you’re fully informed about what you can expect.

If you’re experiencing dental discomfort, call our friendly team today and schedule your consultation.