What is a Root Canal?

What is a Root Canal

There are a number of reasons that a patient may require root canal therapy treatment for a tooth such as extensive decay, fracture, or if a tooth is otherwise damaged. Teeth have multiple layers, the innermost being the pulp of the tooth. The pulp is the portion of the tooth that contains the nerves and blood flow of each tooth and is contained inside canals of the tooth root. If a tooth becomes damaged or has extensive decay, an infection can develop in the pulp and cause a great deal of pain. Infection can develop even years after a tooth becomes damaged and without treatment, an abscess can form at the tip of the root within the jawbone and cause more damage.

A root canal is the treatment of the infected pulp of a tooth by means of removal. This may sound a little dramatic but removing the damaged nerve and tissue within can save a tooth that might otherwise be deemed hopeless and require extraction. An Endodontist is the dental professional who will perform root canal treatment which can take between 30 minutes and one hour and 45 minutes, depending on the number of canals and the extent of the infection.

What is the procedure for a root canal?

Most of the time, a root canal can be completed in one visit. Teeth with multiple canals or severe damage may require two appointments. To begin, the Endodontist will perform an evaluation as well as multiple tests on the tooth in question to better assess the damage and determine if a root canal is the best treatment for you. Once the evaluation is complete and the doctor has determined that you would benefit from root canal treatment, they will administer a local anesthetic and then drill an access hole into the tooth to reach the canals. Small cylindrical files are used to clean the canals of the infected pulp. After all pulp tissue has been removed, they will irrigate the canals and place an anti-microbial agent into each canal to prevent reinfection.

In addition to the antimicrobial agent, a rubbery material called gutta-percha is placed into each canal and a temporary filling is applied to the access hole. The materials and temporary filling help protect the tooth from further damage and re-infection until your dentist can restore the tooth with a permanent dental restoration.

When you see your dentist for your permanent restoration, they will remove the temporary filling and the gutta-percha before placing a permanent composite filling or a porcelain crown.

How long will a root canal treated tooth last?

It is important to understand that even though a tooth has been treated with root canal therapy, they can still develop decay. During your regular hygiene appointments, your dentist will want to take x-rays every 1 to 2 years to make sure that no cavities are developing under your dental restoration. If you do not have the nerves of your tooth, you will not feel any pain and may not know that decay is developing so these x-rays are crucial to the longevity of your tooth. A root canal treated tooth can last the rest of your life with proper care and maintenance. As time goes by, a root canal treated tooth may become brittle so your tooth may eventually require a new restoration or even the placement of a crown if a composite filling was initially done after the root canal.