Root canal therapy treats disorders of the nerve (also called the pulp) inside the tooth. The most common factors contributing to the need for root canal treatment are * trauma, such as a physical blow to a tooth * irritation caused by a deep decay or a very large filling * bacterial leakage of old filling or crown * severe gum disease.

Whereas once upon a time a tooth with an infected nerve had to be extracted, these days root canal treatment can save the tooth. Root canal therapy involves the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small thread-like tissue that, while important for tooth development, is no longer needed once the tooth is mature. The pulp is replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from bone supporting the tooth’s root. Using a surgical microscope Dr Leroy McCully is able to detect the finest details in the tooth structure to achieve optimum results in root canal diagnosis and treatment. Apprehensive patients should be heartened by the fact that if necessary, root canal therapy can be carried out under sedation performed by a qualified anaesthetist in the comfort of our clinic.