 |
|
 |
What is a Root Canal?
 Endodontic
treatment can safely and comfortably save a tooth that otherwise would
have to be removed. In fact, root canal therapy is successful
approximately 95% of the time. Remember, a healthy restored tooth is
always better than an artificial one.
Why couldn't’t you just remove the tooth?
|
 The
choice is yours, but there are many disadvantages to losing a tooth.
When a tooth is removed and not replaced, the teeth next to the empty
space begin to shift from their normal position. This may cause teeth to
become crooked or crowded, which decreases chewing and biting
efficiency. Crowded or crooked teeth may be more prone to dental disease
because they are harder to keep clean than properly aligned teeth. As a
result, other teeth may be lost if the missing tooth is not replaced.
A replacement tooth (an implant or a bridge) is usually more expensive
than Endodontic treatment and involves more extensive dental procedures
on adjacent teeth. |
|
Root Canal Process
 First,
the tooth is isolated from the saliva with a rubber dam (a sheet of
rubber placed around the tooth). An opening is then made through the
crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber. You may be given a local
anesthetic prior to this step so that you will be more comfortable
during treatment.
|
 The
pulp is then carefully removed from both the pulp chamber and root
canal(s). The root canal(s) is cleaned, enlarged and shaped to a form
that can be properly filled.
Medication may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) between
appointments to help eliminate bacteria and prevent infection.
|
 A
temporary filling will be placed in an opening in the crown of the tooth
to protect the pulp chamber and root canal(s) between visits.
If the pulp was severely infected, your dentist may leave the tooth
open for a few days to drain. You may also be given antibiotics to help
the body control infection that has spread beyond the tooth.
During the next stage of treatment, the temporary filling is removed.
The pulp chamber and tooth canal(s) are then filled and permanently
sealed with a material that prevents bacteria from re-entering the
canal.
|
In
the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the
tooth to restore structure, function and appearance. If an endodontist
performs the treatment, he or she will recommend that you return to your
dentist for this final step.
The type of material used for the crown will depend on where the tooth
is located in your mouth, the color of the tooth and the amount of
natural tooth remaining. A front tooth that affects appearance, for
instance, most likely will be restored with porcelain or a
porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. When a back tooth has been badly
fractured or decayed, a gold or porcelain-fused-to-metal crown may be
used. Your dentist will discuss these options with you.
Your endodontically treated and restored tooth could last a lifetime,
if you continue to care for your teeth and gums. As long as the root(s)
of an endodontically treated tooth is properly nourished by the
surrounding tissues, your tooth will remain healthy.
|
|
Length of Treatment
 Treatment
usually requires from one to three appointments. During these treatments,
your dentist removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s)
of the tooth are then cleaned, shaped, filled, and sealed to prevent
recontamination of the root canal system. Root canal therapy usually is a
relatively painless procedure. If your dentist anticipates that any special
care is needed for successful treatment, he or she may refer you to a
specialist called an Endodontist.
The pulp is a soft tissue that contains the nerves, arteries, veins, and
lymph vessels of a tooth. It lies within the dentin, the bone-like tissue
that supports the enamel. Within the dentin, the pulp extends from the pulp
chamber in the crown (the portion of the tooth visible above the gums) down
to the tip of the root by way of the root canal. All teeth have only one
pulp chamber, but teeth with more than one root will have more than one
canal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If
the damaged or diseased pulp is not removed, the tooth and surrounding
tissues become infected. Pain and swelling may accompany the infection.
Even in the absence of pain, certain by products of a diseased pulp can
injure the bone that anchors your tooth in the jaw. Without Endodontic
treatment, your tooth will eventually have to be removed.