What Happens During A Root Canal

Why You Need One

A root canal or endodontic treatment becomes necessary when the root of the tooth becomes abscessed or infected. In the past, this meant an extraction. Either you ended up with a gap in your mouth that could lead to jaw problems, or, depending on your budget, you got an artificial tooth. Today, dentists strive to ensure their patients retain their teeth because it’s been proven that by keeping all your teeth, you’ll live a longer and happier life.

The space inside the hard layers of a tooth is part of the root canal system. This space contains a softer substance called dental pulp and the nerves and blood vessels that help your teeth grow and develop. If bacteria in the mouth enters this space either through a crack or cavity, it causes the tooth to become infected or abscessed. Then it’s time for a root canal.

Who Performs a Root Canal?

While a root canal is usually performed by your general dentist, in some cases you may be referred to an Endodontist. He or she is a specialist who has completed a university post-graduate specialty program in the study of dentistry concerned with the treatment of the dental pulp or nerve of the tooth.

The Process

The dentist will freeze the area by giving you a local anesthetic and will protect the tooth from bacteria in your saliva by placing a rubber dam or sheet around your tooth.

Accessing The Tooth

The dentist will make an opening in the tooth to reach the Root Canal System and the dental pulp that was damaged by the infection. Using very fine instruments, the dentist will remove the pulp and enlarge the root canal system. Remember, this will be painless because of the local anesthetic and the sedation. Once the canal is cleaned the dentist will fill and seal the canal as well as the opening in the tooth.

Restoration

After a root canal treatment, your tooth has to be restored to look, feel and work as much like a natural tooth as possible. If an Endodontist performed your root canal treatment, he or she will fill the opening of the tooth with a temporary filling and send you back to your dentist for tooth restoration.

Your dentist or specialist may use a permanent filling or a crown to restore your tooth. The choice of restoration will depend on the strength of the part of the tooth that’s left.

In most cases a crown is recommended as root canals leave teeth brittle and susceptible to breaking. A crown will also add strength to a root canal tooth, preventing it from breakage and possible extraction.

What If The Root Canal Fails?

Root Canal treatment is highly successful depending on the condition of the tooth. But if much of the tooth is affected endodontic surgery becomes necessary. The most common endodontic surgery is called an Apicoectomy or root end resection. This procedure relieves the inflammation and infection in the bony area around the end of the tooth that continued despite the Root Canal treatment.

This procedure will involve making an opening in the gum tissue and removing the infected tissue. Sometimes even the very end of the root will be removed as well. A small filling will be placed to seal the root canal.

Unfortunately, some teeth are damaged beyond root canal treatment and result in extraction. In these cases, replacement options would be discussed.