Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment is a dental treatment for infections in the root end and tooth pulp which is the third layer of the tooth which is usually caused by decay of the tooth which is deep or by a cracked tooth.
Root canal therapy involves the saving of a tooth that is decayed and otherwise would die and have to be removed. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria and any decay are removed, and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental cement, which restores the tooth function.
Why is it Required?
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realised is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth. The treatment is generally not painful or traumatic.
Root canal treatment if followed by placement of a crown is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.
Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:
- An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Severe toothache pain specially at night
- Sometimes no symptoms are present.
- Swelling and/or tenderness
- A sense that the tooth has grown or is suddenly in a heavy contact with the opposing tooth.
- The tooth feels slightly loose and may have a bad taste coming from it.
Reasons for root canal therapy:
- Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
- Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
- Injury or trauma to the tooth such as a crack in the tooth
What does root canal therapy involve?
A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist (a root canal specialist). While the tooth is numb, an access opening is made on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the pulp, nerve tissue and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments. The pulp chamber is cleaned and disinfected and allowed to heal.
Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed. At the next appointment, usually a week later, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled and sealed with special dental materials. A filling will be placed to cover the opening on top of the tooth. In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed. This will protect the tooth, prevent it from breaking and restore it to its full function. After the initial root canal appointment there may be some discomfort for one or two days but this will quickly improve. You will be given care instructions after each appointment. Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.
What are signs I may need a root canal?
If you have an infected tooth, you may need root canal treatment to clear out the infection. To clear out the infection at the root tip, the tooth pulp is cleaned by using endodontic files which is performed by an endodontist or a general dentist.
A patient requires root canal if the tooth pain doesn’t go away.
Lots of things make your teeth hurt. But pain that’s deep in a tooth or that spreads to your jaw, face or other teeth may mean you have an infection.
Pain due pressure on the tooth during eating
Swollen gums or localized gum puncture with/ without oozing of pus
Discolored tooth which is usually caused by trauma which will result in discolored pulp which inturn make the tooth discolored from outside
Procedure Details
What happens during root canals?
- Gently tap on your tooth or touch it with a cold or hot substance to check for sensitivity or discomfort.
- Use an electric pulp tester to determine whetere the tooth is vital or not
- Check for signs of swelling in the gums and bone around your tooth.
- Your provider injects anesthesia to numb your infected tooth and nearby gum. If you have dental anxiety, your provider may give you medications to help you relax. The medication may make you feel drowsy, which means you won’t be able to drive right after your treatment.
- Next, your provider places a thin, flexible piece of rubber over your infected tooth and nearby gums. This is a dental dam that keeps your tooth dry during treatment.
- They drill a tiny hole in your tooth’s crown so they can get to your tooth pulp.
- Then, they use tiny dental instruments to remove nerves, blood vessels and tissues inside your tooth pulp.
- After clearing out pulp, your provider cleans and disinfects your pulp chamber and root canals.
- Next, they fill the empty pulp chamber and root canals with a flexible, rubbery dental material called gutta-percha.
- Your provider then seals your tooth with a temporary dental filling. The seal keeps bacteria from getting into your tooth.
- In the last step, your provider places a dental crown on your treated tooth. Dental crowns protect your teeth and restore your bite — the way your teeth fit together when you bite down. Dental crowns are typically made to order, so it may be two or three weeks before this last step happens.
What happens after a root canal?
Typically, you’ll have two more appointments so a provider can prepare your tooth for a dental crown and then place the crown on your tooth. A dental crown is required after the root canal procedure as the tooth might break with regular bite force. To avoid this dentist needs to reinforce the tooth structure by giving a crown which can be metal or metal free crowns.
Risks / Benefits
What are the potential benefits of root canals?
- Root canals eliminate tooth infections that, left untreated, could cause serious issues like: Infection that spreads to other teeth.
- Jawbone damage.
What are the risks or complications of root canals?
Sometimes root canals fail because they weren’t the right solution for your tooth infection. For example, if your tooth is very damaged, a root canal may not solve your issues. If your root canal fails, your healthcare provider will discuss other options:
- Re-treating your infected tooth by doing another root canal.
- Removing (extracting) your infected tooth and replacing it with a dental implant or dental bridge.
Recovery and Outlook
How long does it take to recover from a root canal?
Typically, it takes less than a week to recover from a root canal. Call your healthcare provider if your treated tooth hurts for more than a week.
Additional Common Questions
How can I avoid a root canal?
Practicing good oral hygiene and having regular dental checkups are the best ways to avoid root canal treatment. Brushing and flossing your teeth gets rid of dental plaque — a sticky film of bacteria that can cause cavities. Regular dental checkups mean your dentist can spot cavities and other issues early on before they affect your tooth pulp.
What happens if I delay root canal treatment?
Putting off root canal treatment increases the chance that:
- You’ll lose your infected tooth.
- The infection in your tooth pulp will spread to other teeth.
- The infection will spread to your jawbone.
Do root canals hurt?
Root canal treatment can be uncomfortable, mostly when your provider injects anesthesia into your gums and other parts of your mouth. Your dentist wants you to be relaxed during treatment, so never hesitate to let them know if something hurts.
If you’re like most people, you’ll have less pain after treatment because it eliminated the infection that made your tooth hurt. Your tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days after treatment.