Dental Treatments

Root Canal Treatment is the field of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the dental pulp/nerve. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were extracted. Today, root canal treatment gives dentists/endodontists a safe and effective means of saving your teeth.

Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. Root canal procedures are performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the pulp becomes damaged. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Root canal procedures have the reputation of being painful. Actually, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed. The discomfort experienced in the period leading up to a seeking of dental care is truly the painful period of time, not the root canal procedure itself. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then our reconstructive dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!

Advantages/Disadvantages of Root Canal Treatment

ADVANTAGES:

DISADVANTAGES:

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

How is Root Canal Treatment Done?

Treatment often involves from one to three visits. During treatment, our endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems of the pulp) 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 on the crown of the tooth.
• The opening is then extended through the crown of the tooth and into the pulp chamber.
• 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 temporarily 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. If an endodontist performs the treatment, he or she will recommend that you return to your family dentist for this final step.
• 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.

What Should One Expect After a Root Canal Treatment?

The root canal procedure should relieve the pain you feel. Until your root canal procedure is completely finished – that is to say, the permanent filling is in place and/or the crown is place, it's wise to minimize chewing on the tooth under repair. This step will help avoid recontamination of the interior of the tooth and also may prevent a fragile tooth from breaking before the tooth can be fully restored. For the first few days following the completion of treatment, the tooth may feel sensitive due to natural tissue inflammation, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This sensitivity or discomfort usually can be controlled with over-the-counter analgesics such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen. Most patients can return to their normal activities the next day.

As far as oral health care is concerned, brush and floss as you regularly would and see your dentist at normally scheduled intervals. Because the final step of the root canal procedure is application of a restoration such as a crown or a filling, it will not be obvious to onlookers that a root canal was performed. Root canal treatment is highly successful; the procedure has more than a 95% success rate. Many teeth fixed with a root canal can last a lifetime.

Post-operative Care Instructions

• After having a root canal treatment, you can expect to have some discomfort for the first 12 hours or so. This is a normal occurrence and is nothing to worry about. This is caused by the dentist working on the tooth and it should feel normal by the next day. If you find that you are still having pain and it seems to be getting worse or you notice any swelling starting, please call our clinic right away.
• You may have a medicine taste in your mouth at first because a medication has been placed in the canal and you will notice that a temporary filling has been placed in the tooth.
• Try to stay away from sticky food but in the event that you lose the filling please call to have it replaced so that food and other debris doesn’t get down into the canal and cause reinfection.