Root Canal Treatment

Inside the tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected root canal treatment is needed. Inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. Even if a tooth has no visible chips or cracks, an injury may cause pulp damage. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess. Signs of needing root canal treatment include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold; tenderness to touch and chewing; discoloration of the tooth; and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gum tissues or sometimes no symptoms.

Procedure

Root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment) requires removing the nerve and other tissues (called the pulp) from inside the tooth and its root(s). It is performed under local anaesthesia. First an opening is made through the crown of the tooth to gain access to the tooth’s pulp. A thin sheet of rubber, called a rubber dam, is placed in the mouth and around the base of the tooth to isolate the tooth and help to keep the operative field dry. The dentist determines the length of the root canals, usually with a series of x rays. The contents of the canals are removed, and the canals cleaned and shaped, with small wire-like files. The debris is flushed out with antibacterial solution (irrigation). The canals are then filled and sealed with an inert material called gutta-percha. Following root canal treatment, the tooth will need a final restoration, usually a crown, to return it to proper function.

The intended benefit of root canal treatment is to relieve current symptoms and retain the tooth, which may otherwise require extraction. Although root canal therapy has a very high degree of clinical success, it is still a biological procedure, so it cannot be guaranteed. Successful completion of the root canal procedure does not prevent future decay or fracture.