What is Root Canal Treatment?
Today, with modern dentistry, root canal treatment has become a common form of treatment for diseased (abscessed) teeth. Teeth that have had “>root canal treatment can stay as healthy and last as long as other teeth. In most instances, you won’t be able to feel or see a difference. Refer the general dentistry section of this site for a detailed explanation.
Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. You may not feel any pain in the early stages of the infection. In some cases, your tooth could darken in colour which may mean that the nerve of the tooth has died (or is dying). This would need root canal treatment.
What is a Root Canal? Root canal treatment is the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small, thread-like tissue in the center of the tooth. Once the damaged, diseased or dead pulp is removed, the remaining space is cleaned, shaped and filled. This procedure seals off the root canal. Years ago, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed. Today, root canal treatment saves many teeth that would otherwise be lost. The most common causes of pulp damage or death are: • A cracked tooth • A deep cavity • An injury to a tooth, such as a severe knock to the tooth, either recent or in the past Once the pulp is infected or dead, if left untreated, pus can build up at the root tip in the jawbone, forming an abscess. An abscess can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth and cause pain How is a Root Canal Done? Root canal treatment consists of several steps that take place over several office visits, depending on the situation.
