Root Canal Therapy

What is a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy is a common dental procedure and is a simple treatment that can save natural teeth and prevent the need for tooth removal. Root canal therapy involves the removal of the pulp - the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves.

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Why would I need a root canal?

Bacteria that enter the tooth through a crack, deep cavity or injury to the tooth can cause infection, inflammation, and pain. The infection can spread to the bone surrounding the root of the tooth and other teeth if not treated. 

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Root canal therapy can prevent these problems by saving your natural tooth. Also, root canal therapy is usually less expensive than the replacement of a tooth. 

General steps of root canal therapy

Root canal therapy may involve one or more dental visits. Your dentist or endodontist will perform the necessary steps to save your tooth:

1. Your tooth is numbed for your comfort. A thin, flexible sheet of latex material called a rubber dam is placed over your tooth to keep it dry and isolated.

2. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.

3. Your tooth’s nerve and pulp tissue is removed from the canal of each root of the tooth. Each canal is then cleaned, shaped and disinfected so that it can be filled to prevent future infection.

4. Your dentist may place a medicine in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help treat the infection.

5. The treated root canals are filled with a rubber-like material to seal them.

6. A temporary filling is placed in your tooth to cover the access while your tooth heals. You may be given antibiotics if the infection has spread beyond the end of the root(s).

7. Finally, your dentist removes the temporary filling and restores the tooth with a crown or a permanent filling to strengthen it and improve the way it looks.