Root canal treatment, also known as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy, is a dental treatment for removing an infection from inside a tooth. It can also protect the tooth from future infections.

It is carried out in the pulp of the tooth, which is the root canal.

Fast facts about root canal therapy

• Root Canal treatment is used to remove nerves from the pulp of a tooth.
• It is thought to be very painful but is a pain-relieving treatment.
• The procedure often referred to as root canal is called endodontic therapy.
• Root canal therapy costs vary, but it is a less costly option than having a tooth removed and replaced with a crown or bridge.

A “root canal” is not a treatment, but part of a tooth. It is the hollow section of a tooth that contains the nerve tissue, blood vessels, and other cells, also known as the pulp.

A tooth consists of a crown and roots. The crown is mainly above the gum, while the roots are below it. The roots attach the tooth to the jawbone.

Inside the crown and the root, or the root canal, is the pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and provides moisture to the surrounding material. The nerves in the pulp sense hot and cold temperatures as pain.

The name of the dental procedure commonly referred to as a “root canal” is actually endodontic therapy, which means “inside the tooth.”

However, the term “root canal” has come to be commonly used to talk about the procedure.

What are the steps?

Root canal therapy is done in three steps, and it takes between one and three sessions to complete.

1. Cleaning the root canal

First, the dentist removes everything that is inside the root canal.

With the patient under local anesthesia, the dentist makes a small access hole on the surface of the tooth and removes the diseased and dead pulp tissue with very small files.

2. Filling the root canal

Next, the dentist cleans, shapes and decontaminates the hollow area, using tiny files and irrigation solutions. Then, the tooth is filled with a rubber-like material, using an adhesive cement to seal the canals completely.

After root canal therapy, the tooth is dead. The patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed, and the infection has been eliminated.

3. Adding a crown or filling

However, the tooth will be now more fragile than it was before. A tooth with no pulp must receive its nourishment from the ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone. This supply is adequate, but in time, the tooth will become more brittle, so a crown or filling offers protection.

Until the crown or filling is complete, the patient should not chew or bite on the tooth. Once there is a crown or filling is done, the person can use the tooth as before.

Treatment often takes only one appointment, but if there are curved canals, multi-canals, or large infections, this could take one or two additional appointments.

How painful is it?

One of the great fears about this kind of treatment is that it will be painful, but the treatment that is carried out by a trained dental surgeon should be relatively painless.

The pain that is felt comes from the infection and not from the treatment. The treatment does not cause pain; it helps to alleviate it.

The dental surgeon will relieve the pain of the procedure by numbing the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthesia.

After the treatment, some tenderness is normal. It is temporary, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may be enough to relieve it. If needed, prescription drugs, such as codeine, are available.

The dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to treat or prevent infection.

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If the pulp becomes injured or diseased, it cannot repair itself, and the tissue dies.

If there is a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, or a loose filling, bacteria can enter the pulp.

The bacteria will eventually destroy the pulp. If the bacteria penetrate through the root openings, it can cause an infection in the bone.

An infection will weaken the bone and break it down. The ligaments around the tooth will swell, and the tooth will become loose.

A pulp injury will make the tooth sensitive to high and low temperatures. There may be pain when chewing, and some people have a continuous, throbbing pain.

Without treatment, the infection will spread. Eventually, the tooth will become loose and need extracting.

Some patients opt for extraction, especially if it hurts a lot or if the tooth cannot be restored, for example, if there is large decay, trauma, or loss of bone due to periodontal, or gum, disease.

However, removing a tooth may mean that the surrounding teeth start to move and become crooked. This can look unsightly, and it can make it hard to have a good bite.

Root canal therapy will usually save the tooth and eliminate the pain.

If the tooth cannot be saved, the next best option is an implant.

However, saving the natural tooth is best, if possible, because nothing functions as well as a natural tooth.

What does it cost?

The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving the tooth with a root canal is relatively cost-efficient.

The other option is extraction, and the cost of an implant or bridge to replace the tooth afterward is usually more expensive.Extraction can also lead to malocclusion, or misaligned teeth, and difficulty chewing.

Complications

As with any procedure, complications can occur.

• Sometimes the dentist only finds three root canals in a tooth that has four. If one canal remains untreated, the infection might continue and spread into the bone.
• The dentist must also make sure the filling material goes far enough into the canal, to fill it up. If the root canal is not properly sealed, the infection could return.
• During the procedure, the root of the tooth may crack, or the instruments can break in the canal or perforate the canal. This makes it hard to fill the tooth effectively.

If complications occur, a specialist can try to correct the problem and complete the root canal.

To avoid complications, patients should always follow the dentist’s instructions. If an antibiotic is needed, it is important to finish the entire prescription.

It is essential to have a permanent restoration placed, such as a crown, once the root canal therapy is complete.

Prevention

To prevent infections, tooth decay, and gum disease, dentists recommend:

• brushing teeth last thing at bedtime and at least one other time each day
• using toothpaste that contains fluoride
• using a suitable toothbrush and replacing it regularly
• attending regular dental checkups and cleanings
• flossing to clean between the teeth and prevent the buildup of plaque
• avoiding sugary drinks and foods, and following a healthy diet.

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