What is root canal treatment?

Root canal therapy (endodontics) is the process of removing the dental pulp (nerves and blood vessels) within a tooth, measuring, cleaning, shaping, and disinfecting the root canal space prior to placing a filling.

Root canals may be necessary for several reasons:

• Abscessed tooth, =Cavity that has entered the nerve space
• Trauma causing chronic pain and inflammation (pulpitis)
• A fracture or break that has damaged the dental pulp
• A prior deep cavity can cause the eventual damage to a nerve requiring a root canal
• X-ray showing bone damage due to pulpal death (necrosis)

A tooth that requires root canal therapy can range from having no pain to very severe pain and swelling. Often, when a tooth reaches the point where a root canal is required, the only alternative is an extraction. With today's advancements, root canal therapy can usually be performed painlessly and quickly. The treatment may take 1- 2 or more visits depending on the infection present and the complexity of the treatments. Antibiotics may or may not be necessary depending on the condition of the tooth and bone.

What is involved with root canal therapy?

First the patient is numbed thoroughly. After the patient is comfortable a protective device called a rubber dam is placed (like a safety net) to protect the patient from swallowing anything and keep the tooth isolated from contaminates in the saliva. If present, a cavity is thoroughly removed. Then a small hole is made to expose the dental pulp. The canals where the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth are found are located.  After these canals are located, they are measured, cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to allow for a permanent root sealing material to be placed. This is typically done with a material called Gutta percha. After the permanent seal is placed an X-ray is taken to verify successful root canal therapy. Usually the tooth then requires a core (new filling to replace missing tooth structure) and a crown to strengthen the tooth to allow long term success and prevent fracture and leakage of permanent root seal. Often root canal therapy can be completed by a general dentist, but sometimes a specialist completes the treatment if the tooth has badly curved roots or had a previous root canal treatment. Root canal therapy when performed properly has a high success rate 90+%.