ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
|
The dental pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. It lies within the tooth and extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.
Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment has given dentists a safe way of saving teeth.
When the infected or injured pulp is not removed, pain (toothache) or lead to a dental abscess and swelling can result. Certain byproducts of the infection can injure your jaw bones. Without treatment, your tooth may have to be extracted or removed.
Indication for Endodontic Treatment
- deep tooth decay
- repeated dental procedures on the tooth
- a crack or chip in the tooth
- an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks
- pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
- tenderness to touch and chewing
- discoloration of the tooth
- swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues
- sometimes, however, there are no symptoms
- left without treatment, pus builds up at the root tip, in the jawbone, forming a "pus-pocket" called an abscess
- an abscess can cause damage to the bone around the teeth
- without treatment, your tooth may have to be removed or extracted
Steps of Endodontic Procedure
Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.Endodontic treatment can often be performed in one or two visits and involves the following steps:
1. The endodontist examines and x-rays the tooth, then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, the endodontist places a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and free of saliva during the procedure.
2. The endodontist makes an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.
3. After the space is cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” The gutta-percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening.
Instructions After Endodontic Treatment
1. You should not chew firm or bite hard on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible.2. You need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.
3. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues.
Complications after Root Canal Treatment
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.
New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, the endodontist may discover additional very narrow or curved canals that could not be treated during the initial procedure.
Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.
Most teeth can be treated. Rarely, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.
Final Restorations of the Tooth
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth.In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth.
After the last visit with your endodontist, you must return to your dentist to have a filling, dental crown, dental bridge or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
The temporary filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored.
If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold the restoration in place, your dentist may place a post inside the tooth.
Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with a
dental bridge or
dental implant
to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration. With root canal treatment you save your natural teeth and money.
Contact Dentist
Looking forward to hearing from you
Aleksandr V. Melekhin, DDS
Return from Root Canal to Philadelphia Dentist
