Root Canal Treatment

Once upon a time, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy (Endodontics) you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. Root canal treatment is a discipline within dentistry in which primary focus given on saving the tooth from extraction and maintaining the natural integrity of the dental arch. This procedure is carried out by Endodontist. Endodontist is trained to diagnose and treat problems located inside of the tooth with special endodontic equipment. Endodontics, or Root canal therapy, is the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the dental pulp. Root canal treatment refers to the process by which an Endodontist treats the inner aspects of a tooth (the area inside a tooth that is occupied by its pulp tissue). Primary focus is given on saving the tooth from extraction and maintaining the natural integrity of the dental arch.

                

Root canals are filled with a highly vascularized, loose connective tissue, the dental pulp. Once the pulp (nerve & blood supply) of the tooth is damaged, either by trauma, cavities or cracks in the tooth, they can become infected quite easily by bacteria. Eventually, the bacteria may destroy the pulp. The inflammation and infection spread down the root canal, often causing sensitivity to hot or cold foods, throbbing, aching, or pain when you chew. Ultimately resulting with severe pain associated with swelling and abscess formation.

 Most of the time, a root canal treatment is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving 1 to 3 visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!

                           

Signs and Symptoms:

- Occasional sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Constant throbbing.
- Pain on chewing.
- Swelling (which may be tender)
- An abscess on the gums.

Procedure:

The goal of root canal therapy is to improve the health of your damaged tooth. A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by an Endodontist (Root canal specialist).

 The procedure involves freezing the tooth and isolating it. A small hole is drilled into the tooth and any existing fillings or decay is removed. Each canal is cleaned to the tip of the root (normally teeth can have anywhere from 1 to 5 canals).

The canals are then sealed with an inert material (Possibly with Gutta-percha) that occupies the space vacated by the removal of the pulp. This is one of the safest and most effective methods of saving a damaged tooth.    

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After the inside of your tooth has been treated, the outside will be restored to protect your tooth's underlying structures and to bring the tooth back into function. The tooth is usually covered with a ceramic crown or metal crown to prevent the tooth from fracturing and to prevent micro leakage into the root end system resulting in failure of the treatment.

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