Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is necessary when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to help save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), bacteria, nerves, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.
Having a root canal done on a tooth is the most preferable treatment to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients feel that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.
Root canal treatments are extrememly successful and typically last a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth may have to be retreated due to new infections.
Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:
Severe toothache pain.
Sometimes no symptoms are present.
An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
Sensitivity to hot and cold.
Swellingand/or tenderness.
Reasons for root canal therapy:
Injury or trauma to the tooth.
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.
What is Involved with root canal therapy?
With a root canal procedure one or more appointments are typically required and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist (a root canal specialist).
While the tooth is numb, a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) will be inserted around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva. An access opening is created on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the nerver tissue, pulp, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments.
Once the tooth is cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed.
Usually a wekk later, At the next appointment, 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 will need to have a crown (cap) placed. This will protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking, and restore it to its full function.
Your tooth may still be sensitive, after treatment but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth has healed.
Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will help in the life of your root canal treatment.
