What is endodontic treatment or root canal procedure?
Endodontic treatment, also known as a root canal procedure, extracts the internal tissue of a damaged or infected tooth. This tissue, called the pulp, contains nerves and blood vessels which help provide nutrients to the tooth. After the pulp has been removed, the pulp chamber and the root canals are cleaned, sterilized, filled and sealed.

What are the benefits of endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment saves teeth, which in any other circumstance would be extracted. Although the pulp is removed, the tooth remains alive, receiving nutrients from the gum and by the surrounding tooth.

There does not exist any better substitute than your real tooth, which is more efficient in chewing and biting than any other.

What is the first step in the treatment?

Examinations have to be done, including an x-ray. If it is necessary, you will be given local anesthesia and a rubber dam will be applied on the tooth in order to isolate it and maintain it clean and dry during the treatment.

(a) An opening is made in the crown of the tooth.

(b) The pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and the root canal. Fine instruments are used, called root canal files, in order to clean canals and prepare them to be sealed. Medication can be placed and an antibiotic can be prescribed if the tooth is infected.

A temporary seal is placed in the opening of the tooth, in order to protect it between appointments. If there is an abscess or infection which extends to the bone, the tooth can be left open so it can drain.

(c) When the canals have been completely cleaned, and are free from infection, they are filled and sealed with a material which prevents any reoccurrence of bacterial infection.

After the treatment, an x-ray is given in order to determine, if the canals are completely blocked.

(d) Then, the opening is sealed with a temporary seal which will be replaced by your regular dentist with a permanent form of protection like a crown.

What caused the problem in my tooth?

The most common causes of damage to the tooth pulp are severe cavities and fractures which expose the pulp to bacteria that can cause an infection.

Other causes can be some type of trauma to the tooth, a fractured or lost seal, repetitive seals on a tooth or occasionally periodontal disease or commonly known as gum disease.

How many appointments are necessary?

Sometimes endodontic treatment can be completed in a single appointment, but more frequently the procedure tends to take two or more appointments depending on the case.

How long will the tooth last?

Although the tooth tends to be more fragile than before the treatment, with appropriate restoration and dental care, it will usually last for all your life. Appropriate dental care includes toothpaste and a toothbrush, the use of dental floss, an appropriate diet, and regular scheduled visits to your dentist.

Is endodontic treatment painful?

With modern uses of local anesthesia, endodontic treatment includes little or no discomfort. Regularly there is pain before, and the treatment provides relief.

Will there be pain after the treatment?

The cleaning of the root canals can cause some inflammation of the surrounding tissues, but generally the anesthesia relieves the discomfort. If the discomfort persists or if you should experience any severe pain, call your specialist in endodontic treatment.

Who performs endodontic treatment?

All dentists receive some training in endodontic treatment in dental school. Those dentists who are specialists in endodontic treatment limit their practice to the procedures that have to do with the root canal. Besides dental school, they receive one or two years more of additional training in graduate school, and are certified by official institutions.

Many general dentists refer all of their cases of endodontic treatment to a specialist. Others regularly practice the procedure, but refer the complicated cases and all the emergencies to the specialist in endodontic treatment.

What are the alternatives to endodontic treatment?

Extraction of the tooth is the only other alternative. And unless the tooth is replaced, the other adjacent teeth will drift to the sides, interfering with biting and chewing. The loss of a tooth can cause periodontal disease and additional tooth loss. The replacement of a tooth with an artificial tooth requires dental procedures in the adjacent healthy teeth.

Can endodontic treatment be applied to all teeth?

Occasionally a tooth can not be saved. The treatment can only be applied, if the root canals are accessible, can be sterilized and adequately sealed. The tooth must also have sufficient mass.

And after endodontic treatment, what do I do?

Once endodontic treatment has been completed, it is very important to return with your dentist so that he can protect and restore the tooth. If you let time pass, there exists a great possibility that it could fracture, and get infected again. In this situation, the tooth can not remain in your mouth.

Do you want to know more?

If you have a question about endodontic or root canal treatment, your specialist in endodontic treatment will be more than glad to clear up any doubts or visit our interactive video.