ROOT CANAL THERAPY
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
If the inside of your tooth and the surrounding area become infected due to cracking, deep decay, or injury, you may need root canal treatment. The idea is to treat your tooth infection (or avoid a future infection) without losing your tooth.
It usually takes two or three appointments to effectively treat a painful or infected tooth in this way, ensuring it doesn’t have to be removed.
Pain is usually the first sign of an infected tooth. You’ll experience pain when the nerves and pulp contained within the tooth begin to decay, causing inflammation or infection. But sometimes, your damaged tooth pulp may not cause any symptoms. In these cases, the problem can be diagnosed by special tests or x-rays during a dental check-up or treatment for other dental concerns.
Your treated tooth should be capped with a crown or complex filling to add strength and stability. And once finished, you’ll have a tooth that’s just as strong as your healthy teeth.
Healthy tooth
Infected tooth
Opening made in anesthetized tooth and Infection removed
Canals filled with Gutta Percha and opening filled with filling
Crown cemented onto rebuilt tooth.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE
A root canal procedure is relatively simple:
- Your dentist will numb the area and place a dental dam in your mouth to isolate the tooth that needs the root canal. The rest of your teeth will be covered.
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Your dentist will then use special instruments to access the root canals and thoroughly clean inside your tooth. The canals will be cleaned with an antibacterial and antiseptic solution to eliminate bacteria and treat the infection inside your tooth.
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Then your dentist will shape the canals using tiny instruments.
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Finally your roots will be filled.
Properly sealed canals keep bacteria out. That’s why we compress a rubber-like material, fitting it snuggly against your canal walls, and sealing it with adhesive cement.
You may need to take antibiotics to kill an underlying infection. Your dentist will inform you about this. It is completely normal to experience some minor discomfort for a few days after the procedure, and over-the-counter pain medications usually alleviate this.
