What is Root Canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is an often straightforward procedure to relieve dental pain and save your teeth. The doctor carefully removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects and shapes the root canals, and places a filling to seal the space.

A root canal treatment is a dental procedure to remove inflamed or infected pulp on the inside of the tooth which is then carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth.

What happens during root canal treatment?

Inside your tooth, beneath the white enamel and a hard layer called dentin, is a soft tissue called pulp. This tissue contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, which help grow the root of your tooth during its development. A fully developed tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.
 

Modern root canal treatment is nothing like those old sayings! It's very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances.
 

Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. After treatment, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection and will continue to function like any other tooth.
 

You'll be back to smiling, biting and chewing with ease in no time.

Saving the natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages:

• Efficient chewing
• Normal biting force and sensation
• Natural appearance
• Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

How do you know if you need a root canal?

• Root canals are needed for a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, a deep cavity, or issues from a previous filling.
• Patients generally need a root canal when they notice their teeth are sensitive, particularly to hot and cold sensations.

There are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal:

• Severe pain while chewing or biting
• Pimples on the gums
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening of the gums

Benefits of Saving Natural Tooth:

• There are many clinical reasons for needing root canal treatment, but there are also countless practical reasons why saving the natural tooth is a wise choice.
• Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.
• Modern endodontics offers advancements in technologies, procedures and materials, giving you many treatment options to save your natural teeth.
• It’s important to understand your choices and how they’ll impact both your teeth and your future dental health.
• It’s always best to retain your natural teeth whenever possible and endodontic treatment should be your first choice for the best health and cosmetic results.