When your teeth or gums become infected it can be a very uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. Bacterial infection takes hold in teeth and gums that are suffering from decay. When the tough enamel is penetrated by dental decay it exposes the sensitive cavity at the centre of the tooth, where the nerve is located. This can then become infected leading to toothache and dental abscesses.

When a tooth is infected in its root, the bacterial infection irritates the extremely sensitive dental nerve causing toothache. When the body fights back it produces excess white blood cells to kill off the infection. These can sometimes build up in tissue around the infected tooth causing a small abscess. This can be very painful and can be prone to bursting which can easily spread the infection.

Toothache and abscesses can both be prevented with increased cleaning far before it gets to this stage. Effective cleaning removes plaque, one of the main causes of tooth decay, this means that enamel is kept strong and healthy and infections cannot penetrate to the centre of the tooth. If the infection has taken hold it is essential that you visit a London dentist as soon as possible. A dentist can remove the infection, possibly using a root canal treatment, before filling the cavity and sealing it with a dental crown. Dentists are also trained to remove abscesses without spreading the infection to other areas of the mouth. It is important to remove any infected matter as it can cause tooth loss and has strong links to heart disease and even strokes.

It used to be the case that dental crowns had to have a base made of metal to act as a solid foundation, but with today’s improved technology crowns can be made of pure porcelain. This makes modern dental crowns appear very realistic and ideal for transforming the appearance of damaged or discoloured teeth.

Crowns can be used for a variety of dental repairs such as fillings and root canal treatments. The crown acts as a protective barrier against any further damage to the tooth once the repair has been carried out. In the past a metal foundation was needed to prevent crowns breaking when fixed in the mouth but modern porcelain is now strong enough to use without a metal base. This means that porcelain crowns not only keep teeth safe but they also look great. The extra strength of porcelain is enhanced by the use of tooth-coloured dental bonding to cement the crown over the teeth. This provides an extra layer of protection and keeps the crown firmly in place.

New technology available to London dentists also includes CEREC, a system that involves manufacturing crowns from a single piece of porcelain using computer-guided mills. This has improved the strength of crowns and significantly reduced the time needed for design and manufacture. A CEREC crown can be milled in only six minutes and fitted in the same appointment. For patients with badly damaged teeth it is now possible to completely transform the appearance of their smile in an afternoon with porcelain crowns.

A root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a procedure specifically designed to deal with infected matter or decay located in the centre of the tooth. To fully understand the procedure you must first know that the teeth are made of several layers of different material. On the outside is the tooth enamel, the strong protective layer which surrounds the softer dentine on the inside, supporting the structure. Inside that is the soft tissue centre of the tooth containing the nerve.

The root canal of the tooth is the pulpy soft tissue that runs down from the tooth into the jawbone and gum securing the tooth. The pulp contains nerve endings and blood vessels that form the living part of the tooth. When tooth decay happens, this pulpy centre and root canal can become infected spreading down into the gum and bone. Needless to say this can be very painful as the infection is directly attacking the nerve. This infection can also spread to the gums and can cause a painful swelling known as a tooth abscess.

The root canal treatment is designed to save the tooth and alleviate pain by preventing the spread of infection and ultimately removing it. To do this the dentist will need to drill down through the tooth to get to the infected area. In the hands of a well-trained dentist and with the proper anaesthetic this process should be relatively painless and no more painful than having a regular filling. Once the infection is removed the cavity is filled and then sealed with a dental crown to prevent further infection.

Root canal treatments have a bad reputation as being painful and unpleasant but the reality is quite different. A root canal treatment from a City of London dentist could actually prevent a lot of pain and stop the spread of dangerous infections in the mouth.

Of all the most feared dental procedures none is so iconic as the root canal. The obvious reason behind this is the presence of the dentist’s drill. But is the root canal treatment really that bad? Well, put simply, not really. In fact root canal treatments are often some of the most important procedures in dentistry, that can make the difference between keeping and losing a tooth. Ask anybody who has suffered the pain of a toothache or tooth abscess and been given some relief by a root canal and they would probably tell you the same.

A dentist will use a root canal when a cavity has extended to the point it has broken through to the root of the tooth. This then becomes infected and the infection gradually eats away the pulp and attacks the nerve. These nerves can be incredibly sensitive and the source of some of the nastiest toothaches. The dentist needs to get inside the tooth and remove all the infected material and depending on the state of the nerve, possibly remove that as well. If the infection has killed the root, the tooth may no longer hurt but the infection is still capable of spreading to other teeth and even entering the bloodstream.

The dentist uses the famous drill to penetrate to the root of the tooth. They will then extract any infected mater before filling the cavity with medicine to destroy any residual infection. The root canal will then be filled and possibly crowned to preserve the structural integrity of the tooth. The whole of the root canal will take place under a local anaesthetic so there is no reason why it should be any more painful than any other dental procedure.

After the surgery the patient may feel some numbness or pain for a few days but this will usually pass and can be controlled with over-the-counter pain relief. The bad reputation of a root canal is perhaps more associated with the pain that precedes it than the operation itself. A root canal could bring an end to some very unpleasant sensations and still leave you with your own tooth at the end of it. Credit where credit is due.

If you are suffering from a toothache, or have been recently, make an appointment with a London dentist as soon as possible and a root canal could offer you the relief you’ve been looking for.

One dental procedure conjures up fear more than all the others. The dreaded root canal treatment, with its association with drills, is one of the most iconic of the nasty dental surgeries. However, the reality is slightly different. A root canal treatment is actually one of the most useful dental procedures that can make the difference between keeping a tooth and losing it. A successful treatment can alleviate pain and significantly reduce the need for further expensive treatment.

When a tooth becomes infected it is attacked by the bacteria and begins to die. This can be very painful as the infection occurs in the sensitive centre of the tooth, where all the nerve endings are located. A root canal will remove all the infected pulp, before filling the cavity with medicine and sealing it so no further infection can occur. This way, you may loose the sensitivity of the tooth, but the pain and infection will be gone, and you still have your original tooth.

The procedure will be carried out under anaesthetic, so there is no reason why a root canal should be any more painful than a regular filling. Although the dentist may need to use the drill, it really is only the sound and image that terrifies patients. The dentist will even numb the area with gel before he injects the anaesthetic.

Once the cavity has been filled, a crown or veneer is usually placed over the top to preserve the integrity of the tooth. Root canals are often the only option available to dentists to save the tooth. If the tooth is not treated or removed, the infection can quickly spread to other teeth in the mouth and can even infiltrate the bloodstream causing further medical problems, including heart disease.

As you can see, far from being feared, a root canal can be one of the most beneficial dental treatments. For anyone who has experienced the searing pain of an infected tooth, a root canal can be the blessing that removes the pain. If you think you have an infected tooth, even if the pain appears to have gone away, make an appointment with a London dentist who will be able to fully examine your teeth for infections and abscesses.

When a patient has a chipped or cracked tooth that it is unable to fix with dental bonding, it may be necessary to apply a dental veneer to save the tooth. Dental veneers are also used to seal teeth after fillings or root canal treatments. The veneers are made of porcelain and take the form of thin shells that fit over the top of existing teeth. Modern veneers can be incredibly thin and have a translucent quality that makes them appear just like real teeth.

Veneers are not only used to repair damage that has occurred to teeth but may be used for cosmetic purposes. For cases of badly stained or discoloured teeth, a whole set of veneers may be used to cover the discolouration. The same might happen for a patient with badly worn or uneven teeth.

Manufactured in laboratory conditions, porcelain veneers are cemented to the existing teeth by dental bonding. They do cost slightly more than the old composite veneers but they are more durable and the difference in quality is visibly noticeable. Because veneers fit over existing teeth, the dentist will need to wear down some of the enamel to allow room for the new veneer. This process is permanent and cannot be reversed. However, as today’s enamels become thinner and thinner, due to new technology, the amount of preparation work is reduced and some of the very latest enamels can even be removed.

Veneers are very useful and versatile cosmetic tools. For some patients who have spacing issues, or even alignment issues, a row of veneers could vastly improve the appearance of the teeth in an afternoon, without the need for months, or even years, of uncomfortable and ugly braces. Likewise for whitening procedures, which are often only minimally successful, a row of veneers can produce the effect of white teeth without the need for chemicals or repeated whitening. A City of London dentist will be able to offer advice on porcelain veneers with regard to suitability and costing.

Root canal treatments are necessary when tooth decay has killed or is likely to kill a tooth. The procedure involves removing the pulp from the centre of a tooth. This prevents painful infections from happening in the tooth which could also spread to other teeth. Root canals are also effective for treating infections that have developed into abscesses.

Root canal treatments have a reputation as being one of the nastiest and most painful procedures you can have performed at the dentist, but this is not necessarily the case. Often a root canal is little more than a filling and the pain is minimal. The dentist will do all they can to make the procedure as painless as possible.

Before the procedure the dentist will numb the gums with a jelly like substance. They will then further numb the gums, teeth and tongue using a local anaesthetic. The decaying pulp will then be removed, often using a drill. This is the aspect of the process that causes nightmares but it is really a relatively simple procedure. Once a cavity is created in the pulp of the tooth it is filled with medicine and filling material and finally a root canal filling. A permanent filling or crown may be needed to keep the root canal filling in place permanently. Patients may experience numbness or pain for one or two days after the root canal but this can be treated with a variety of painkillers.

Root canals may have a bad reputation but there are very valuable and necessary parts of dental surgery. Bacteria from infected teeth can enter the bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of the body. If a tooth is infected a root canal will need to be performed as soon as possible to limit the spread of infection. Root canals also eliminate the need to completely remove teeth and as such are also useful cosmetic procedures.

If you are suffering pain in one or more of your teeth, have a tooth abscess or think you may need a root canal treatment, don’t let fear put you off. You need to make an appointment to see a London dentist as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection and save your tooth.

Chances are, if you need a root canal, you will want to have it done as soon as possible. For example, if you are on antibiotics, or the tooth is very painful, you may find that there aren’t any other options open to you. Today, dentists in London have some of the most advanced technologies and training available to ensure that your root canal goes as smoothly as possible.

Years ago, when individuals had a tooth or gum abscess, they would have the tooth removed. Unfortunately, this also caused many people to wind up in a situation where missing teeth caused all kinds of oral health and chewing problems. This situation is even worse when molars need to be treated. In most cases, a root canal is actually cheaper and better in the long run than dealing with extractions and implants.

Once the roots of your tooth have been treated with a root canal, you can look forward to chewing with that tooth for the rest of your life. On the other hand, if you have the tooth taken out, and then get implants, you may need to have them replaced every few years. In addition, there is no such thing as an implant or bridge that will work as well as your natural teeth when it comes to chewing food.

If you are concerned about the recovery period after a root canal, your dentist can give you painkillers, as well as other medications to keep you comfortable. Consider that it is not worth developing a life threatening infection simply because you are afraid to have a root canal. When you begin to weigh all of the risks and benefits, you will soon realize that any type of mouth infection should be a signal to see your dentist as quickly as possible.

Your Central London dentist can help you with tooth pain when it occurs. This tooth pain can occur as a result of years of neglect, or can occur due to pulpal injury. Pulpal injury to the tooth usually occurs when a cavity becomes too deep and the tooth has not received for this cavity. It can also occur if the dentinal layer of the tooth is exposed to the environment due to wear of the enamel or some other injury to the tooth. Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common causes of tooth pain. Dental pulp problems are reversible unless tooth decay has progressed into the pulp tissue. A root canal must be performed in order to eliminate tooth pain due to caries exposure. All infected pulpal and dentinal tissue must be removed, and all of the bacteria removed or killed. Other pulpal pain may be the result of sweets, abrupt temperature changes, and touch. If surrounding tissue is involved, an abscess may form. This abscess will be treated by your Central London dentist. If these problems are not addressed and treated, you will have more serious problems in the future. After your Central London dentist treats your tooth pain, the pain should subside in 24-48 hours. At times antibiotic and pain medication may be required. If the tooth cannot be saved, your tooth may require removal.

Also referred to as endodontics, a root canal treatment is usually done when the nerves of your tooth are believed to be infected or injured. Before being recommended this treatment, your City of London dentist will first make a proper assessment of your teeth’s condition.

At this point, it is important that you understand the need to undergo a root canal treatment before the pulp becomes too infected, resulting to abscess. If still untreated, the infection could spread to the rest of the tooth and it might be necessary to extract it.

Basically, the root canal treatment is designed to:

• Remove infection
• Clean the infected tooth
• Fill the infected tooth in order to protect it from another infection

During your first visit to the dentist, the pulp that is infected will be removed. In addition, all abscesses will be drained and the root canal will be thoroughly-cleaned as well as shaped as part of the preparation for a temporary filling.

On your second visit, the tooth will be checked for any signs of infection. If there are none found, your dentist can now fill the tooth permanently.

Although a root canal treatment can be painful, keep in mind that it is better to save the infected tooth than leave it until it rots out or even have it extracted. Most dentists would recommend this procedure in order for you to enjoy more natural teeth.

Caring for your tooth after a root canal treatment will require nothing special. Your City of London dentist will probably suggest a good oral hygiene program, healthy lifestyle and proper diet in order to ensure perfect oral health.