Root canal treatment addresses problems affecting the nerves and blood vessels located inside the tooth and its roots, collectively known as the dental pulp.
Root canal treatment is often the only solution when a tooth has extensive decay that has reached the pulp, when the pulp has already become necrotic, or when the tooth has suffered a crack or fracture. In most cases, a tooth in this condition causes pain, inflammation and swelling.
During root canal treatment, the patient is placed under local anesthesia. An access opening is created in the centre of the tooth, allowing the dentist to remove the damaged tissue from the internal chamber.
In subsequent appointments, the root canals are carefully cleaned, disinfected and fully sterilized. Once this process is completed, the dentist fills the canals with a specialized root canal filling material, which seals the space and maintains the interior of the tooth in a clean and sterile condition.
The procedure is completed with the placement of a composite resin filling to restore the tooth.
Because teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are more prone to fracture, additional protection is often recommended. For enhanced durability and improved aesthetics, the tooth may be restored with a dental crown, inlay or onlay, depending on the extent of tooth structure loss.
