Root Canal Treatment
If you’ve been told that a root canal is necessary to save one of your teeth, it is important that you understand why this procedure is necessary and what happens during root canal treatment.
Root canal therapy treats disorders of the tooth’s pulp. Pulp is live dental tissue within the center chamber of your teeth. This pulp tissue is made up of blood vessels, connective tissues and nerve fibers that send pain signals to your brain. The pulp extends from the tooth chamber, down through the root canal to the tip of the root that lies in the bone of the jaws. Teeth have only on pulp chamber but may have more than one root in several root canals.
When your tooth has had extensive decay or injury, the pulp tissue becomes irritated and infected. Bacteria will grow within the tooth pulp, causing pressure and pain. If the pressure increase is great enough, blood circulation in the pulp chamber ceases and the bacteria destroys the pulp. The bone surrounding the tooth may also become infected and abscessed.
A root canal treatment allows your dentist get rid of all the pulp tissue gently and thoroughly, and fill the remaining empty pulp chamber with a biocompatible material that is cemented into the cleaned pulp chamber. This prevents infection from starting in the empty pulp space and makes the tooth comfortable for the rest of your life.
Did you remove my tooth’s root?
Root canal treatment cleans, shapes and fills the canal system inside your tooth. The root structure that held your tooth in place is still intact, we have just sealed the spaces within it.
The process of saving the tooth
1- First, local anesthesia is give so you will be more comfortable during treatment. Then, and opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
2- The pulp is then carefully removed from the pulp chamber and the root canal(s). The root canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to a form that can be filled.
3- Medication may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to eliminate bacteria.
4- A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to prevent saliva from entering the tooth. You may also be given a prescription for antibiotics if an infection is present.
5- At your next appointment, the temporary filling is removed and the root canal(s) is filled with a biocompatible material and then sealed.
6- In the final step, a crown is usually placed over the tooth to cover your tooth and restore it to normal shape and size. The crown’s purpose is to strengthen the tooth and improve its appearance. If your root canal was done through an existing crown, we often can repair the existing crown.
How long will the restored tooth last?
As long as the root(s) of a treated tooth is nourished by the tissues around it, your tooth can remain healthy for the rest of your life. However, the tooth could still become decayed, so good oral hygiene at home and regular dental exams are necessary to prevent both tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
Will my tooth be sore after treatment?
If you experience soreness with your temporary crown, you may be “hitting high” with your bite. Please contact us to schedule and adjustment appointment so you can be made more comfortable.
In addition, after your root canal procedure is complete it is quite normal to experience some soreness upon biting or chewing. It may be sore even without any chewing. The process of root canal therapy is known to bruise the ligaments around the roots of the tooth being treated. This bruising can cause cold sensitivity and soreness upon pressure. Until this bruising goes away (usually in 3-5 days) Ibuprofen will keep your tooth comfortable. Take as directed.
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