Root Canals

“Root canal” refers to the natural cavity within the tooth housing the pulp chamber and sensory nerves. These nerves aren’t vital because they only provide temperature sensations. You need root canal therapy when dental decay or the bacterial infection spreads past the enamel and into the root canal, infecting the pulp. During the root canal therapy, the root canal specialist removes all the infected nerves and pulp to protect your tooth from infections and abscess.

Once the infection spreads into your root canal, you need an emergency root canal as a last resort to protect your tooth from complete decay. Once the bacterial infection spreads into your pulp chamber, they can multiply and lead to a pus-filled pocket (abscess) at the end of the tooth’s root. A dental abscess is incredibly dangerous, and it also leads to other complications like bone loss around the tooth’s root, swelling around your face, and the infection may seep into your blood and reach other parts of your body. As such, emergency root canal treatment is crucial.

You must contact the dentist that specializes in root canals. During your first visit, the root canal dentist will take an x-ray and examine your tooth to identify signs of infection. The dentist will then apply a local anesthesia to numb sensation. If you need root canal treatment, your tooth’s nerves are probably dead anyway, preventing sensation, but anesthesia is offered to put you at ease.

During the root canal therapy, the root canal dentist will place a rubber dam around the infected tooth to prevent saliva from getting in. The dentist will drill an access hole into your tooth to access the root canal, following which they’ll remove all the infected pulp, nerves, and debris. The root canal dentist will clean your root canal using root canal files of increasing diameters. Once done, the dentist will use water or a sodium hypochlorite solution to clear the debris.

After cleansing the root canal, the dentist will seal the access hole. However, before sealing it, the root canal dentist may want to wait a week to ensure the infection is gone. The root canal specialist will apply medication within the tooth to treat the infection and place a temporary filling to protect the access hole from external contamination, such as foods, saliva, etc.

During your next session, the dentist will remove the temporary filling and seal the tooth with a sealer paste and compound called gutta percha. Finally, the dentist will recommend a permanent dental crown to protect your affected tooth from damage and dental fractures. If you go for it, the dentist will discuss your options and take impressions of your teeth to prepare the most natural-looking dental crown possible, which will be attached to your tooth.