Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is indicated when your tooth is infected, which can cause severe dental pain. The inside of your tooth contains pulp tissue, which is made up of nerves, blood and lymp vessels. When the pulp cannot repair itself from disease or injury, it eventually becomes infected and subsequently dies. A fracture in the tooth, decay or a deep filling commonly causes pulp death, as the pulp is exposed to bacteria.
When the pulp becomes infected, it is best to remove it before the infection can spread to the root of the tooth and its surrounding tissues. The whole tooth may be lost if the infection is left untreated. Root canal treatment can save your tooth.
Root canal or endodontic treatment is a process whereby a small access hole is made in the top of the tooth in order to remove the inflamed or dead pulp. Strong anti-bacterial medication is placed inside the tooth, which provides you with temporary relief of pain and infection. An adult tooth can function normally without its pulp and be kept indefinitely.
After removing the pulp, the canals of the roots are cleaned, shaped and eventually sealed with a filling material to prevent further infection. The treatment can take approximately 2 to 3 appointments, depending on how complex the tooth is, and how long the infection takes to clear.
Root canal treated teeth become more brittle after removal of the nerve, so your dentist may suggest that you have a crown on top to protect the tooth against fracture in the future.