Root Canal Treatment

The root canals contain blood vessels and nerves in the inner part of the tooth between the pulp and also the tooth roots. It refers to this sensitive part of the gums that is either get decayed or damaged by a disease.

Decades ago, root canal treatments were painful. With dental advances and local anesthetics, most people have little if any pain with a root canal today.

Root canal treatment consists of a number of steps that take place over several office visits, depending on the situation. These steps are:

  • Following an examination and x-ray of the tooth, the injured tooth is given a compress.
  • To isolate and prevent saliva from reaching the damaged tooth, a dental dam is typically placed over it.
  • A pulpectomy is when a dentist creates a hole through the back of a front tooth or the crown of a wisdom tooth or premolar to remove the damaged pulp.
  • To get ready for a filling, the pulp chamber and root canals are then cleansed and prepared.
  • The dentist uses gutta-percha material to fill the root canal.

A temporary filling is inserted in the crown opening to preserve the tooth in between dental appointments if more than one visit is required. After removing the temporary filling, gutta-percha is permanently injected into each channel of the pulp chamber and root canal, and the area is cemented shut. For structural support, a plastic or metal rod can sometimes be inserted into the canal. The tooth is often restored to its original form and appearance in the last stage by placing a crown over it. Before putting on a crown, it can be necessary to use a post to strengthen a damaged tooth.

It used to be accurate for many people to fear that getting a root canal would hurt. Today, receiving a root canal is just as comfortable as receiving a filling thanks to improved anesthetic alternatives and surgical methods. Tooth pain is typically caused by an infected tooth (pre-root canal), and the root canal is the treatment for this issue. An abscess in the teeth and the destruction of the surrounding bone can result from infected pulp in the teeth.

A treated and restored tooth can last a lifetime with proper care. Root canals have a high success rate and are significantly less expensive than the alternative, tooth extraction and replacement with a bridge or implant.

But tooth decay can still occur in treated teeth, so good oral hygiene and regular dental exams are necessary to prevent further problems.

To determine the success or failure of root canal treatment, dentists typically compare new X-rays with those taken before treatment. This comparison will show whether bone continues to be lost or is being regenerated.

Sometimes root canals are not successful because an infection develops inside the tooth, or the original infection was not fully removed. In these cases, an apicoectomy, a procedure where the infection and the root tip are removed and a filling placed, is done. Other times a second root canal is recommended.

Having performed root canal therapy for the past 35 years, we at Bawa Dental Clinic have a success rate of over 95%. Please get in touch with us with any questions.