Root Canal Treatment

If there are two words that can strike fear into the heart of every adult, they are: root canal.

But the truth is, there are a lot of misconceptions about what a root canal is, and why they are needed. The good news is, if you keep up the right habits, you may never need one at all.

First though, let’s delve into why you might need one in the first place.

How does decay start?

A root canal is necessary to treat tooth decay, which which has progressed over several stages:

• Initial Infection: The tooth begins decaying and the decay goes beyond the enamel and progresses to the dentin (the layer underneath the enamel).
• Deep impact: Finally, decay reaches the nerve structure of the tooth, which is called the pulp.
• No going back: At this point, the inflammation that has been caused by the decay in the tooth is irreversible. The nerve structure of the tooth begins to die. Severe pain may occur.
• Not-so-swell: As this happens, chemicals are released that can cause an infection at the tip of the root, leading to pain and swelling.
• Calling for help: The patient will usually seek a dentist who can help relieve the pain and treat the tooth with root canal therapy.

A general dentist typically decides on a per-case basis whether to perform a root canal or to refer the patient to an endodontist (root canal specialist).

What happens during the procedure? 7 stages

1. During a root canal, the tooth is anesthetized in the same manner as when a cavity is filled. It’s an important stage: it means your root canal procedure should be painless.
2. The decay, the inflamed and infected pulp and any other nerve tissue located in the tooth’s roots are removed, and the tooth is prepared to be filled.
3. The filling material is a rubbery substance called gutta-percha. It acts as a sealant to completely block the entire root structure and prevent oral fluids from reaching the tooth and reinfecting the tooth’s internal structure.
4. Although the roots and nerve chamber are sealed by the procedure, the tooth remains severely weakened and requires a core buildup and crown to protect its remaining walls. The filling core and crown act as a protective cover. They protect the tooth from further damage and help restore proper chewing function.
5. Occasionally, if the decay does not destroy a large amount of tooth, a crown is not required. In this instance, a core buildup is all that is necessary as a final restoration.
6. Depending on the extent of the damage and on the dentist performing the treatment, the root canal may take one or more visits.