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Root Canal Therapy
When a tooth's nerves are damaged by infection or decay, it will be necessary to have root canal therapy. A root canal involves removing all of the living tissue inside a tooth to save the remainder, including the pulp, nerves, and bacteria. The empty space is then filled back in with special dental materials, bringing the tooth back to full use.
Root canals are performed to save teeth that would die because of the damaged nerves and have to be pulled eventually. The common belief is that it is much easier to just pull the damaged tooth, but this has long-lasting repercussions in cost, and for the stability of the adjacent teeth.
The success rate of root canal therapy is high and is usually only required to be done one time on a tooth, but in rare instances it may have to be redone because of a new infection that has cropped up.
Here are some common symptoms of a tooth requiring root canal treatment:
- A gum abscess
- The tooth is highly sensitive to hot and cold food
- The patient is suffering a severe toothache
- The area around the tooth is swollen and tender
Occasionally, there are no symptoms of a problem.
A root canal may be needed if:
- Tooth decay has extended to the pulp in the tooth
- An abscess develops at the tip of the tooth's root
- An infection develops inside the tooth
- The tooth has experienced severe trauma or injury.
What all is involved in a root canal?
A root canal can be done in one visit, or it may take a couple of visits, and can be done by a root canal specialist known as an endodontist, or can be done by the family dentist.
To begin the procedure, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and then a rubber dam is wrapped around the tooth so it stays dry during the procedure. A hole is made in the top of the tooth to access the inside, and then the pulp and nerves are systematically removed with a series of tiny files placed into each leg of the root. If any decay is noticed during the root canal process, it will be removed as well during this process.
When all of the living material has been removed from the tooth, a permanent filling will be installed to fill in the holes, or if more work is needed, a temporary filling will be installed.
If a second appointment is needed to finish the work, the entire inside of the tooth, including the hollow roots, will be filled with a special medicated substance designed for dental work, and then sealed off. The rest of the tooth will get a filling installed to fill in the hole in the top of the tooth. It is also a good idea to have a crown installed over the finished tooth. A crown will keep the tooth from cracking and return the space to full functionality.
The tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold for a while after the procedure, but will go away when the swelling around the tooth goes down.
At the completion of the root canal process, you will receive care instructions from the dentist. With or without a crown, all that is required is proper oral hygiene and regularly- scheduled visits to the dentist.
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