Root Canal Treatment

All About Root Canal Treatment

What is a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment is the cleaning out and sterilizing of the inner part of the tooth that houses the tooth's pulp, a small, thread-like tissue. Once the diseased pulp is removed, the remaining space, the canal, is cleaned, shaped and filled. This seals the root canal and keeps bacteria out.

X-ray of lower two front teeth that have had root canal treatment.

Why would I need a Root Canal?

Once the pulp is infected or dead, it needs to be taken care of. If it is left untreated, pus can build up at the root tip in the jawbone, forming an abscess. An abscess can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth and cause pain. These are the most common reasons that the pulp would get infected:

• Cracked tooth. Sometimes teeth get cracks in them that then allow bacteria into the middle of the tooth that then kills the pulp of the tooth.
• Deep cavity. If a cavity gets so deep that it touches the pulp, then the pulp will get inflamed and die.
• Injury to the tooth. If a tooth gets knocked too hard, gets displaced or severely chipped in an accident the pulp can die.

How do I know if I need a Root Canal?

Symptoms of needing a root canal include:

• Spontaneous pain. Pain that comes on without being provoked.
• Waking up in the middle of night with pain. Pain that is strong enough to wake you from sleep.
• Cold sensitivity. Drinking something cold that makes the tooth sore for many minutes, not just seconds.
• Hot sensitivity. Hot makes it throb and cold makes it feel better.
• Tooth tender to touch. Putting pressure from the bite or from the tongue is painful.
• Bump on gums. Bump or swelling on the gum tissue, typically about a half inch below the gum line.
• Single discolored tooth. A tooth darkening over time, usually with a history of trauma and usually not sore at all.

What is the process of getting a root canal?

• An opening is made through the back of a front tooth or the top of a molar or pre-molar.
• The diseased pulp is removed.
• The pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped in preparation for being filled.
• Gutta-percha, a tapered, rubbery material is inserted into the canals of the tooth and is cemented into place.

What is Endodontics?

The word "endodontic" is composed of two Greek words: "endo" meaning "inside," and "odont" meaning "tooth." Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases that arise from the soft tissues (the dental pulp) inside the tooth.

What is the Dental Pulp?

The dental pulp is a soft tissue that resides inside the tooth within the root canal space. This pulpal tissue is composed mainly of blood vessels, nerve fibers, and connective tissue, similar to tissues elsewhere in the body. The root canal space typically runs centrally inside the tooth from the end of the root, along the length of the tooth, and into the clinical crown. The primary functions of the dental pulp are to assist with the formation and nourishment of the tooth before and during its eruption into the mouth. After the tooth is fully formed, the dental pulp is not necessary to sustain its health, although it continues to serve as a feedback mechanism to alert the patient if all is not well with the tooth.

What Happens if the Pulp Becomes Injured or Infected?

If the pulpal tissue is injured and becomes irreversibly inflamed or infected, the tooth will need root canal treatment if it is to be saved. If left untreated, infection from the tooth can spread into the bone and surrounding soft tissues, causing pain and/or swelling. In cases of extreme dental infection, the eye can become swollen shut or breathing can become difficult as pressure builds against vital structures.

What Happens After Root Canal Treatment?

A protective restoration should be placed after root canal treatment has been completed in order to restore the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture. The only alternative to root canal treatment is extraction of the problematic tooth. In most situations, well-performed root canal treatment with a protective restoration is the treatment of choice — it is usually the least time-consuming, least invasive, and most cost-effective long-term option.