Root Canal Therapy

Natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Even if one of your teeth becomes inured or decayed, it can often be saved through a specialized dental procedure known as root canal (endodontic) treatment.

What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment usually involves the removal of the tooth’s pulp, which compromises of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. Once removed, it is replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from its surrounding tissues.

Why do people need root canal therapy?

When the pulp is diseased or injured and it is unable to repair itself, it loses it vitality. Most common causes are: cracked tooth, a deep cavity, complications involving large fillings/dental restorations or traumatic injury to the tooth. If the nerve of the tooth is not removed, the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth can become infected and an abscess can form, resulting in pain and swelling. Sometimes, due to complicated anatomy of the roots of the tooth, patients need to be referred to an endodontist, or somebody who specialized in root canal therapy.

What happens after the root canal therapy is completed?

Once the root canal is completed, the tooth must be restored with a core build up (a material that builds the tooth back up) and then a crown (a crown is a protective cap like unit that is made to prevent the tooth from breaking). Why a crown? Once a tooth looses its nerve and blood supply, it becomes very brittle and is very susceptible to breaking. A crown prevents this from happening. Crowns can be made out of gold, porcelain, ceramics or a combination of the above materials.

How long will a root canaled tooth last?

A tooth with a root canal and crown can provide years of service. They can however, become decayed, develop fracture lines or become periodontally involved, just like any other tooth. Oral hygiene and regular dental exams will help you keep and maintain healthy teeth, whether they are endodontically treated or not.

Root canal treatment at a glance:

Local anesthesia is given and a rubber dam is placed to isolate it from the rest of your mouth. The decay is removed and an opening is made through the crown or the tooth into the pulp chamber The pulp is removed and the root canals are cleaned and shaped. The root canals and the pulp chambers are filled and then sealed with a core build up. The tooth is restored with a crown.