What
Is A Root Canal?
Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin
is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the
tooth's nerves, veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Root canals
are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top
pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least
one but no more than four root canals.
Why do I feel pain?
When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture
that allows bacteria to seep in, or injury due to trauma,
it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow
and cellular activity, and pressure cannot be relieved from
inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when
biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods
and drinks.
Why do I need root canal therapy?
Because the tooth will not heal by itself. Without treatment,
the infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin
to degenerate, and the tooth may fall-out. Pain usually worsens
until one is forced to seek emergency dental attention. The
only alternative is usually extraction of the tooth, which
can cause surrounding teeth to shift crookedly, resulting
in a bad bite. Though an extraction is cheaper, the space
left behind will require an implant or a bridge, which can
be more expensive than root canal therapy. If you have the
choice, it's always best to keep your original teeth.
What is a root canal procedure?
A root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead
pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased
pulp and reshaping the canal. The canal is filled with gutta
percha, a rubberlike material, to prevent recontamination
of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed with possibly
a post and/or a gold or porcelain crown. This enables patients
to keep the original tooth.
What is involved in root canal therapy?
Once your general dentist performs tests on the tooth and
recommends therapy, he or she can perform the treatment or
refer you to an endo-dontist (a pulp specialist). Treatment
usually involves one to three appointments.
First, you will probably be given a local anesthetic to numb
the area. A rubber sheet is then placed around the tooth to
isolate it. Next, a gap is drilled from the crown into the
pulp chamber, which, along with any infected root canal, is
cleaned of all diseased pulp and reshaped. Medication may
be inserted into the area to fight bacteria. Depending on
the condition of the tooth, the crown may then be sealed temporarily
to guard against recontamination, or the tooth may be left
open to drain, or the dentist may go right ahead and fill
the canals.
If you're given a temporary filling, usually on the next visit
it's removed and the pulp chamber and canal(s) are filled
with rubberlike gutta percha or another material to prevent
recontamination. If the tooth is still weak, a metal post
may be inserted above the canal filling to reinforce the tooth.
Once filled, the area is permanently sealed. Finally, a gold
or porcelain crown is normally placed over the tooth to strengthen
its structure and improve appearance.
What are the risks and complications?
More than 95 percent of root canal treatments are successful.
However, sometimes a case needs to be redone due to diseased
canal offshoots that went unnoticed or the fracturing of a
canal filing instrument used-both of which rarely occur. Occasionally,
a root canal therapy will fail altogether, marked by a return
of pain.
What happens after treatment?
Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few
days, which can be controlled by an over-the-counter analgesic.
A follow-up exam can monitor tissue healing. From this point
on, brush and floss regularly, avoid chewing hard foods on
the treated tooth, and see your dentist regularly.