Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy, also known as endodontic treatment, is a dental treatment performed to remove an infection from the inside of a tooth. This procedure can protect the tooth from future infections. Root canal treatment is done in the root canal (the pulp of the tooth) and normally saves the tooth and eliminates the pain experienced.

Root canal therapy is indicated during the restoration of a tooth with extensive decay with tooth pulp involvement or compromised vitality and pathology around the tip (apex) of the root in the bone like an abscess or granuloma. When the pulp (root canal contents) of the tooth becomes diseased or injured, it is unable to repair itself, which results in tissues dying. An infection occurs when bacteria enter the root canal when there is a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, or a loose filling, which will then weaken and break down the bone. This will make the ligaments surrounding the tooth to be inflamed and the tooth to be loose.

In some cases, root canal treatment can be very complex, and an operating microscope in our practice is utilized to find and negotiate complex canal systems. During the root canal treatment procedure, the prosthodontist will clean out the entire root canal system to eradicate the remaining root canal tissue and all bacteria with a combination of hand instruments and rotary motor-driven instrumentation. The root canals are cleaned with a chemical to be able to fill the entire root canal up to the tips of the roots. The tooth's root canal that is being treated can then be restored with a post and core if required to form the foundation for the crown or inlay/onlay/final filling restoration. Root canal treatment can also be indicated for very sensitive teeth that are sensitive to cold/heat/sweet things if more conservative treatment is not effective.