Root Canal Therapy

The pulp of a tooth is a soft tissue that contains mostly nerves and a blood supply. When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, it dies.

The most common causes of pulp injury are fracture, a deep cavity, or trauma.

Pain and swelling can accompany pulp disease, or the tooth may be completely free of symptoms. Once the pulp is determined to be diseased, it is necessary to remove the damaged tissue to avoid injury to the bone that anchors the tooth to the jaw.

What does root canal treatment involve?

1. An anaesthetic is normally used so that you will be comfortable during treatment. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.

2. The pulp is carefully removed. The root canals will be cleaned and enlarged and shaped to a form that can be easily filled.

3. A temporary filling will be placed in the opening in the crown to protect the pulp chamber between appointments. Bits of this filling may come out between appointments. As long as the bulk of the material is present, the tooth is protected.

4. The root canal is filled and sealed with a material, which prevents bacteria from re-entering the canal.

Treatment usually requires one to three appointments, however each tooth presents individual problems and must be treated accordingly. After the root canal therapy is completed, two more steps are normally necessary to save the tooth. The first is a build-up of a filling material, which strengthens the tooth and restores it to its original form. The second is a crown, which minimizes the risk of fracture.

Recent research has shown that use of anti-inflammatory drugs minimizes the occurrence of pain and swelling during and after treatment.

We advise that you take the anti-inflammatory and the antibiotic medication as directed. ADHERING STRICTLY TO THE MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL INCREASE THE LIKLIHOOD OF A GOOD RESULT WITH MINIMUM SYMPTOMS.

PROGNOSIS OF ROOT CANAL THERAPY

While there is no certainty concerning healing, we expect about 95% success rate. On rare occasions, the chances of success may fall below this expectaion due to unusual root formation or blocked canals, or a tooth may not be amenable to endodontic treatment at all. If your tooth falls within one of these categories, you will be informed of this.

Teeth treated with root canal therapy can last as long as other teeth as long as you are in good health and your body has the ability to repair the damaged bone.

In short, root canal therapy is basically a painless, anxiety free experience. Your comfort throughout all phases of treatment is a major concern of our office. A mild reaction may occur after treatment, such as tenderness of the tooth or slight swelling of the gum. This generally subsides of its own accord in 3 or 4 days. If these symptoms are very severe or last for more than 3 or 4 days, this office should be notified.

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