Root Canal Treatment

Natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime. 

Even if one of your tooth should become critically injured or diseased, it can often be saved through a specialized dental procedure known as endodontic treatment. To help you understand when and why such a procedure might be needed and how a damaged tooth can be saved, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about endodontic treatment- commonly referred to as root canal treatment.

What is endodontic or root canal treatment?

Endodontic therapy is a dental specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the dental pulp (the tooth’s soft core). Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were extracted. Today, endodontic or root canal treatment gives a safe and effective means of saving teeth.

What is dental pulp?

The pulp is soft tissue that contains the nerves, arteries, veins and lymph vessels of a tooth and provides vitality and nutrition to the 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 (Image 1). All teeth have only one pulp chamber, but teeth with more than one root will have more than one canal.

What happens to the damaged pulp?

When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, the pulp dies. The most common cause of pulp death is a tooth fracture or a deep cavity that exposes the pulp to saliva. The bacteria present in mouth cause infection inside the tooth. Left untreated, the infection eventually causes the pulp to die. Pus can build up at the root tip, forming an abscess that can destroy the supporting bone that surrounds the tooth.

Why does the pulp need to be removed?

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 byproducts 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.  

What does endodontic treatment involve?

Root Canal Treatment at our Dental Care Centres usually requires one appointment.
During the treatment the diseased pulp is carefully removed. The pulp chamber and the root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned, shaped, filled and sealed to prevent recontamination of the root canal system. Single sitting root canal treatment is usually a relatively painless procedure. (Images 2-5)

Image 4  Diseased back tooth with large cavity	Image5  After root canal treatment

Why is a strong filling and crown necessary for a root canaled tooth?

When the pulp tissue dies because of injury or infection the affected tooth stops getting nourishment. The same situation continues even if the tooth is treated endodontically. Such unnourished teeth tend to become dry and desiccate with time and can fracture and crumble easily. They need to be protected from possible breakage. A strong reinforcement such as a post or metal pins(image 6)   and resin filling (image7 ) followed by a crown (image 8) is an absolute necessity to preserve the tooth for years from enormous stresses generated during function.

Image 6:  Root canal treated teeth with metal pins

Why is a crown necessary for a root canalled tooth?

When the pulp tissue dies because of injury or infection the affected tooth stops getting nourishment. The same situation continues even if the tooth is treated endodontically. Such unnourished teeth tend to become dry and desiccate with time and can fracture and crumble easily. They need to be protected from possible breakage. A strong filling preferably with some reinforcement followed by a crown is an absolute necessity to preserve the tooth for years from enormous stresses generated during function.