Endodontics is the specialized field of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, management, and treatment of the infected dental pulp/nerve of the teeth, the surrounding gums, and bony tissue. It is commonly known as root canal treatment.

Endodontics is needed when you have a toothache, i.e. there is pain associated with your teeth, a condition is known as acute pulpitis. This arises when the pulpal tissue/nerves of the teeth are inflamed due to a variety of factors like decay, trauma, large and deep fillings or insults to the tooth.

Root canal treatment is about saving teeth, rather than removing them. In the past, the only way to treat teeth with the disease was to extract them. Now, thanks to modern dental techniques, we are able to save damaged teeth more than 90% of the time. According to your dedicated dentists in Preston; signs to look for diseased pulp; include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discolouration of the tooth, and swelling, tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.

When a tooth becomes severely decayed or damaged, it creates openings for bacteria to grow on the inner parts of the tooth. If the nerves or blood vessels inside the tooth become damaged by the bacteria, the tooth will become painful. If you begin to experience this pain, we can perform a root canal (endodontic treatment) and attempt to save the tooth. Micro-endodontics involves using a microscope, which allows us to see more detail than we would be able to with the naked eye. A few of the key reasons for choosing microscope-assisted endodontics include:

• Improved Accuracy – The dentist will be able to be to make cleaner and more accurate incisions by using smaller instruments during the procedure.
• Minimized incisions – With increased accuracy during the procedure, the surrounding soft tissues in the mouth are less likely to be affected. This will allow for faster healing times and reduce the chances of needing secondary procedures.
• Easier Access – By using the microscope, dentists are able to access areas that are more challenging to reach. Better visualization of the infected area prevents complications.
• Spotting a Fourth Canal – During a traditional root canal, the dentist could easily miss the fourth canal that some teeth have. If this happens, the infection can continue to spread into the bone. By using a microscope, the dentist can spot any hidden canals and clear the infection completely to save the tooth.

General Dental Council No. 68536 ; Qualifying from Cardiff University in 1993 as a qualified Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Dental Surgeon), Dr Fender worked in the hospital service initially, working in general practice whilst completing a Masters Degree in Endodontics in 1998 at Manchester University.

Since 1998 Dr Fender has dedicated her practice to the field of Endodontology (also known as root fillings or root canal treatment) and in 2001 she was recognised by the General Dental Council as a specialist in .Endodontics. Dr Fender recently joined Lane Ends Dental Practice . She treats patients requiring endodontic treatment using an operating microscope and other specialist equipment. She accepts referrals for this treatment from colleagues within the practice, and from many other Dental Practices across the region.

Dr Fender is also a part-time tutor at Manchester Dental Hospital where she is involved in the clinical teaching of Endodontics to post-graduate students. Dr Fender is registered with the General Dental Council and a member of the British Endodontic Society.She is also the Secretary for the North-West Endodontic Study Circle (Norwesc), a group of Specialist Endodontists based in the North West. Dr Fender attends conferences and courses on a regular basis to ensure she is fully up to date with new developments. Dr Fender offers payment plans, and uses up to date protocols of treatment at the competitive prices and welcomes new referrals.

Referred patients will only be accepted for the specific treatment requested by the referring dentist. After an initial consultation, options and choices available to the patient will be discussed in detail and Dr Fender will spend as much time as necessary to enable patients to make an informed decision about the appropriate treatment for their needs.

• • We will always return the patient to the referring dentist.

• • We aim to contact patients within 24 hours.

• • We will return patients' and dentists' calls within 24 hours if they have any queries.

• • The patient will receive a detailed treatment plan and all costs will be agreed and discussed before treatment.

• • We will always provide recommendations for further care.

• • We will only carry out treatment in accordance with instructions from the referring dentist.

• • No further treatment will be carried out without authorisation from the referring dentist.

• • We will keep you updated throughout the treatment.

• • We aim to send a full treatment report to the referring dentist within two working days.

• • We only use the most modern and scientific proven procedures, materials and equipment.
  • We will offer reasonable and highly competitive specialist fees.

If you have been referred to us, when your root canal therapy has been completed,  a record of your treatment will be sent to the dentist who referred you. We advise you to return to your general dentist between two to four weeks after your root canal treatment is completed to have your final restoration done unless advised differently by us. This amount of time will allow most of your tenderness to subside before having further procedures done on your tooth.   If your tooth does not get the necessary final restoration (crown or filling) and the temporary filling wears out,  the root canal will become infected and need retreatment.

 The final restoration is either a filling or a crown and will be placed to protect your tooth from fracture and further contamination and restore your tooth to its full function.   As the unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture,  please do not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have it restored by your dentist.

Final Verdict: Root Canals Are Preferred, but Not Always Possible

Between a root canal and a tooth extraction, a root canal is often the preferred choice because it works on fixing your natural tooth so that it could remain in place. However, a root canal may not always be an option, depending upon the damage that a tooth has incurred. If a tooth is far too compromised, your dentist might recommend an extraction, followed by a dental implant to replace what was lost.