What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is simply a treatment aimed at removing an infection from within the tooth. Root canal treatment (RCT) involves the cleaning out of the infection from within a tooth to allow the structural component of the tooth to remain intact thereby preventing loss of the tooth. Infection results from bacterial contamination within the nerve system. The bacteria can enter the tooth through decay or cracks within the tooth. Trauma to the tooth can also result in requiring RCT.


What is Endodontics?

From Wikipedia.org:Endodontics, from the Greek endo (inside) and odons (tooth), is one of the nine specialties of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association, and deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. If the pulp (containing nerves, arterioles and venules as well as lymphatic tissue and fibrous tissue) has become diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.


Why would I need a root canal procedure?

The obvious reasons are pain and infection. Some infections do not cause pain however, so it is up to your dentist to diagnose these situations. The root canal procedure is required if the tooth is infected - this will allow the dentist to remove the infection from your tooth and hence, improve your overall health.


What happens if the pulp gets injured?

If the pulp gets injured, it will, in most cases, start to die. The disease process involves bacterial contamination of the pulp, thereby resulting in an inflammatory reaction. This reaction then causes pain to the individual. Pulp disease results in the loss of the tooth if root canal treatment is not completed.


Why does the pulp need to be removed?

Contamination of the pulp results in infection and in most cases, pain. Removing infection is paramount to optimal dental healt, as well as overall medical health. The pulp space which houses the dental pulp is a breeding ground for bacteria, since once the pulp gets infected, the immune system is not capable of removing the infection.


What is the dental pulp?

The dental pulp is the clinical name for the tissues within the tooth. This includes the nerve system, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels all of which are located within a space inside the tooth.