Diagram of a healthy tooth.
What is root canal treatment?
Your dentist uses root canal treatment to find the cause and then
treat problems of the tooth's soft core (the dental pulp). Years ago,
teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal
treatment has given dentists a safe way of saving teeth.
What is the dental pulp?
The pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and
connective tissue. It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown
of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.
Indications
Deep tooth decay, or an injury, can cause serious damage and infection to the
pulp’s nerves and vessels. Root canal, or endodontic, treatment cleans out
the infected pulp chamber and repairs the damage.
Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:
Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting.
Sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone.
An abscessed (infected)
tooth caused by tooth decay.
What happens if the pulp gets injured?
When the pulp is diseased or injured and can't repair itself, it
dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep
cavity. Both of these problems can let germs (bacteria) enter the pulp.
Germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. Left without treatment,
pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a
"pus-pocket" called an abscess. An abscess can cause damage to
the bone around the teeth.
Why does the pulp need to be removed?
When the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result.
Certain byproducts of the infection can injure your jaw bones. Without
treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.
Treatment
What does treatment involve?
Treatment often involves from one to three visits. During treatment,
your dentist removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and
root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed.
Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:
- First, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth.
An opening is made through the crown
of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
- The pulp is then removed. The root canal(s) is cleaned and shaped
to a form that can be filled.
The pulp is removed, and the root
canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
- Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to
help get rid of germs and prevent infection.
- A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect
the tooth between dental visits. Your dentist may leave the tooth
open for a few days to drain. You might also be given medicine to
help control infection that may have spread beyond the tooth.
The pulp chamber and root
canals are filled and sealed.
- The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root
canal(s) are cleaned and filled.
- In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed
over the tooth. The crown of the tooth is then restored.
How long will the restored tooth last?
Your restored tooth could last a lifetime, if you continue to care
for your teeth and gums. However, regular checkups are necessary. As
long as the root(s) of a treated tooth are nourished by the tissues
around it, your tooth will remain healthy.
