Root canal treatment

Why does my Tooth need Root Canal Treatment?

A tooth generally needs a root canal procedure because the pulpal tissue (the ‘nerve’) inside the tooth has become irreversibly damaged. The pulp may become inflamed or may die if either there is significant decay in a tooth, if there is a large restoration (filling or crown) or if the tooth has been subjected to trauma.

The inflamed pulp may cause toothache or remain pain-free. When the pulp dies, the space it inhabits (the root canal) can rapidly become infected with bacteria. This may cause pain and swelling in the supporting tissues (abscess) or the tooth may remain symptom-free.

Root canal treatment is directed towards removing inflamed or abscessed tissue. The root canal system, especially in molars, is often complex and difficult to clean well. This is why many general dentists prefer to refer these cases to an Endodontist who has the training, specialised equipment and experience to deal with them well.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

During a root canal the Endodontist will make a small hole in the crown of the tooth and remove the pulp tissue or existing root canal filling which is infected by bacteria.
The pulp chamber and the tooth root canals are then cleaned (sometimes referred to as ‘removing the nerve’) and disinfected to reduce the number of bacteria and allow healing. Root canal therapy requires one or two visits to complete, depending on the extent of the infection.

Once the root canal system has been sealed with a root canal filling, a protective crown may be required to prevent the tooth from fracture, so that it can be retained
as a healthy and functional member of the dental arch.
Root canal treatment has not always been as successful as it is today. Fortunately the guiding principles of modern Endodontics can now be utilised to deliver very predictable
results over years of a patients lifetime.

Endodontists are specifically trained dentists who have a great deal of experience and use specialised equipment in order to treat difficult
root canal systems and retreat teeth where previous root canal treatments have failed.

Endodontists are able to use techniques to reduce patient discomfort and anxiety during the treatment. Most patients will experience no discomfort during or after the procedure, a minority of patients may experience a little soreness after the procedure which will resolve within 48 hours, this can be reduced by taking painkillers during this period.

Currently, we can expect success rates of over 90% for first time root canal treatments performed by an Endodontist. The success rate is reduced to about 75 - 80% when an existing root treatment needs redoing if it has failed.

Some cases may need further treatment in order to eradicate the infection successfully. If root canal treatment fails, a surgical procedure (root end surgery) might be necessary in order to treat the infection successfully.

Alison
Practice Manager

Longborough Dental Practice

Team Building and Training Day

Longborough Dental Practice is committed to professional development for all the team and recently had a Team Building and Training Day at Wotton House Conference Centre.

 

Nineteen of the staff attended and the whole day was built around Belbin Team role personality profiling. There were group discussions on the balance of roles within the practice, presentations and competitive team games. All of which was designed to build productive working relationships, develop a high performing team, raise self-awareness and build mutual trust and understanding within the team.

 

Discussions were held afterwards to analyse how people reacted and worked together as a team. It was a valuable exercise and the lessons we all learnt will be put into practice in the Practice. Our aim is to ensure that the Longborough Patient experience is second to none and this Training Day will help us to do exactly that and provide an even better service.

Alison
Practice Manager

Longborough Dental Practice

The Reverend Dr Richard Malcolm Neil Hooker

Sadly Richard Hooker passed away on Tuesday 24 May, 2011.
 
As many of you may know, Richard was a long serving dentist at Longborough Dental Practice and he was also the father of Alison our practice manager. 



After he had qualified from Guys Hospital he joined Longborough as a partner with Brian Calvert in 1963. He made Longborough his home and continued to work here until he retired in August 2003, having made many friends amongst the families of Dorking and surrounding Surrey Hills during his long and successful career.



In 1990 he became a lay-reader at St Giles and St George’s church in Ashtead. Richard was ordained in 1999 at Guildford Cathedral and became Reverend Dr Richard Hooker. He continued his ministry at St Giles and St George’s, Ashtead where he led services, preached regularly, presided over weddings and funerals and held services in nursing homes.




He was very popular and highly regarded by his congregation.



Apart from all of his hard work with the church, in recent years he still managed to find time to journey around the world. He loved to travel and particularly enjoyed visiting Africa.



Throughout his life he always owned and loved dogs and enjoyed many, many long walks with them on Fetcham Downs.



He always kept himself fit and was a very keen sportsman. In his younger days he was a runner, an enthusiastic squash player and loved cricket and rugby. He attended St John’s School, Leatherhead and remained a rugby Old Johnian. He also served as lifelong Vice President of Leatherhead Cricket Club.



He leaves behind his much loved wife, three children and his beloved grandchildren.
 
Richard will be greatly missed.