What is a root filling?

Every tooth has a nerve, or pulp, which runs down inside each root. This very sensitive piece of tissue becomes inflamed if the tooth decays and this is what causes toothache. If the tooth isn't treated, the nerve eventually dies and can subsequently abscess. The object of a root filling is to remove the dead or dying contents of the root canals and to fill the canals with an inert root filling material. This is a complex procedure and often takes two or more visits to complete. After the nerve contents are removed, any pain present usually resolves and the tooth becomes symptomless. One of the side-effects of nerve removal is that the remaining tooth becomes fragile and liable to fracture. It's rather like a dried stick fracturing readily, a green stick bends and absorbs forces. A vital tooth does deflect slightly under forces and can take most strains but a dead tooth becomes brittle and breaks readily if stressed, often losing a cusp. For this reason, your dentist may advise you that the tooth should be crowned after root filling.

Under NHS Regulations, you cannot have an NHS root filling followed by a private crown in the same course of treatment. If your tooth requires a root filling and a crown, we have a special discounted price to cover this, your dentist will explain this to you at the time.

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