ROOT CANAL
​WHAT IS ROOT CANAL?
Root canal is a dental treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing/extracting it. ​
The term "root canal" comes from cleaning of the canals inside a tooth's root. Decades ago, root canal treatments were painful, most of the time. However fortunately, with dental advances and local anesthetics, most people have little if any pain with a root canal treatment. Indeed, it is probably more painful to live with a decayed tooth. Root canal alternatives include extracting the damaged tooth and replacing it with a dental implant, bridge or removable partial denture.
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WHEN WILL A ROOT CANAL BE NEEDED?
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Each tooth have a soft core called a dental pulp. The pulp extends from the crown - the visible part of the tooth - to the tip of the tooth's root in the jawbone. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp. Left untreated, bacteria and decaying material will cause a serious infection or a tooth abscess, leading to pulp death, bone loss, and loss of the tooth itself.
Signs and symptoms may including, but not limited to, swelling around your face and neck, a hole in your tooth, toothache, or tooth pain, gum swelling, and temperature sensitivity.
THE PROCESS​
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A root canal is usually done by an endodontist or a general dentist. The root canal treatment usually takes one or two visits, but once in a while additional visits are required because some teeth prove difficult to treat.
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X-rays are taken to check the extent of the tooth damage.
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A local anesthetic will be given to help control the pain, which may be more severe if the tooth is abscessed.
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A rubberlike sheet called a dental dam is then put in your mouth to keep the tooth clean, protected and free of saliva.
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Decay is removed, and an opening is made through the crown of the tooth to gain access to the pulp chamber.
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Using small dental instruments, the infected or diseased pulp is removed.
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After the diseased pulp is removed, the pulp chamber and root canals are flushed and cleaned.
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The root canals may be reshaped and enlarged to allow better access for filling later. Before permanently filling the root canals, they should be clean of all infection and dried.
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Medication is sometimes put into the pulp chamber and root canal to clear any infection.
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The tooth may be left open to drain for several days. If infection has spread beyond the tooth, you may need a prescription for antibiotics.
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If the root canal requires multiple visits, a temporary filling is placed in the crown to protect the tooth and keep out debris and saliva.
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Avoid biting or chewing on the tooth until it's been treated and restored.
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After cleaning and drying, it's now time to fill the interior of the tooth — the empty pulp chamber and root canals.
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Additional anesthetic may not be needed for this step.
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If a temporary filling was placed, it will be removed to allow access to the inside of the tooth.
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A sealer paste and rubber compound is used to fill the tooth, followed by a dental filling to make sure the root canals are protected from saliva.
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The final stage of the root canal is tooth restoration. As the tooth typically has a large filling or was weakened from extensive decay, it needs to be protected from future damage and returned to normal function.
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This is usually done by placing a crown — a realistic-looking artificial tooth. A crown is made of gold, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. Crowns made of porcelain or porcelain fused to metal can be tinted to match the color of your other teeth. Sometimes, a metal post must first be inserted in the tooth for structural support and to keep the crown in place. Ask your dentist or endodontist about other restoration options.
