Root Canal Treatment

To understand root canal treatment, we shall first discuss the anatomy of the tooth. The tooth crown is the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth and the tooth root is not visible and is covered by bone and gum. The dental pulp is the center of the tooth that extends into the roots of the tooth containing nerve and blood vessels to provide the tooth blood and nutrients.

The dental pulp tissue can become inflamed and infected due to deep tooth decay or a large filling that extend into the pulp, trauma to the tooth, or extensive gum disease. Unlike the rest of the body, the pulp is enclosed within the tooth and is unable to repair itself when it is irreversibly inflamed, hence treatment will be required.

Signs and symptoms of pulp involvement may include pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, pain during biting and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, swelling or abscess and tenderness of overlying gums.

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What is root canal treatment?

Root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or one with pulp involvement. During treatment, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth may become more infected and abscesses may form. In some severe cases, infection may spread causing swelling of the face.

The first step in root canal treatment is the removal of infected and inflamed pulp tissue. Under local anaesthetic, dental decay and existing filling is removed and an opening is made in the crown of the tooth to get access to the pulp within.

Using a small root canal file or rotary file, the root canals are cleaned and shaped to a shape that can be sealed. To further ensure that the root canals are cleaned, antibacterial solution is used to flush the root canals removing debris and eliminating bacteria.

The canals are then filled with a material, called gutta-percha. It is highly recommended that after a root canal treatment is completed, the tooth to be restored with a dental crown (tooth cap) as soon as possible. These teeth are often weakened and prone to fracture. A crown can strengthen the tooth and improve its longevity.

Root canal treatment is often done over multiple appointments, with a change of medicament in the canals over the visits. Multiple X-rays will be required to determine the length of the roots and to monitor treatment stages.