Endodontic treatment involves the inside of the tooth where a soft tissue called the pulp is located. Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. If pulpal inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
Signs of pulp damage may include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling or tenderness in the nearby gums.
Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal therapy is a procedure performed to treat (or prevent) infection of the dental pulp and surrounding bone and gums.
This procedure may be necessary for many reasons including but not limited to deep tooth decay (ie. dental caries), traumatic injuries to the tooth, or cracks in the teeth.
Root Canal treatment is usually performed in one visit (often less than one hour) but in some cases a longer visit or more than one visit may be required.
How is a Root Canal Performed?
The doctor will evaluate the tooth to be treated by performing an exam and evaluating dental x-rays. Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor will explain the diagnosis and review different options (as well as discuss the prognosis of treatment).
The tooth to be treated is anesthetized fully with a local anesthetic (ie. Novacaine) and then isolated with a small plastic sheet called a dental dam. This rubber dental dam is needed to keep the tooth clean and free of saliva during the procedure which helps prevent re-infection of the canals.
A small hole is made into the tooth to gain access to the pulp tissue and canals. The canals are then cleaned and rinsed with an antibacterial irrigant.
Once the canals are cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible filling material and an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. A temporary filling is then placed to close the opening of the tooth and the patient then returns to their dentist for a crown or other restoration to protect the tooth and restore it to full function.
