Root Canal Treatment
Why do I need Root Canal Treatment?
You may need to have endodontic or root canal treatment when the soft tissue inside of your tooth (the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected. This can be as a result of deep decay, repeated dental procedures, leaking crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth. Trauma to your tooth may also cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain and/or lead to an infection (abscess) in your jaw.
Root Canal Treatment Explained
After a proper diagnosis is determined, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb your tooth to ensure your comfort. A “dental dam” will be placed on your tooth to isolate it from the rest of your mouth thereby preventing bacteria from entering your tooth via your saliva. The dental dam also prevents disinfectants, small instruments, or tooth debris from inadvertently being swallowed or inhaled. Next, an opening will be made in the tooth to access the inflamed or infected pulp inside the canals. Any existing decay, and sometimes old fillings, will also be removed. The pulp is then removed using small sterilized instruments along with disinfecting irrigants. The canals are also shaped to accommodate the root canal filling material, which is a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and an anti-microbial cement.
Once treatment is completed, the opening in your tooth will be closed with a restoration. This restoration is usually temporary and your general dentist will remove it and replace it with a final restoration, which is a composite build up and crown in most cases. Based on current recommendations from the American Association of Endodontists, more and more general dentists are asking their endodontists to place the final composite. This is because your tooth is the most bacterial free immediately following the root canal treatment so placing the final composite restoration at that time makes the most sense. Your general dentist will still place the crown when needed. After the tooth has the final restoration placed, it will continue to function like any other tooth. A modern root canal treatment is very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances. Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. You'll be back to smiling, biting and chewing with ease in no time.
Root Canal Treatment: A Step by Step Guide
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