Root Canal Therapy
What is it and why do
I need it?
Your dentist may
have suggested to you that Root Canal Therapy
(otherwise known as Endodontics) was needed for a
particular tooth. They may have briefly discussed
some of the facts concerning the procedures involved
in root canal therapy, but perhaps you would like
some more information.
Years ago, a badly
infected tooth, or one that just had significant
decay, was doomed to be extracted. Today, the
majority of these teeth can be salvaged through a
procedure utilized by both the General Dentist and
the root canal specialist, the Endodontist.
An extraction is
truly our last resort!
Some indications of
the need for root canal treatment may be:
- Spontaneous
pain or throbbing while biting
- Sensitivity to
hot and cold foods
- Severe decay
or an injury that creates an abscess (infection)
in the bone
Root canal
treatment consists of:
The removal of the
infected or irritated nerve tissue that lies within
the root of the tooth. It is this infected pulp
tissue that causes an eventual abscess.
The first step in a
root canal is to obtain access to the nerve. This is
accomplished by establishing a small access opening
in the top of the tooth. It will be done under a
local anesthetic.
The length of the
root canal is determined and the infected pulp is
removed.
At the same visit,
the canal where the nerve is located will be
reshaped and prepared to accept a special root canal
filling material. The number of visits necessary to
complete your root canal will depend upon several
factors including the number of nerves in the tooth,
the infected state of the nerve, and the complexity
of the procedure.
The final step in
your root canal will be the sealing of the root
canal with a sterile, plastic material called gutta
percha. This is done in order to prevent possible
future infection.
If treated early,
root canal therapy need not be uncomfortable. With
the use of local anesthetics, the entire procedure
can be totally painless.
An “Old
Wives'
Tale” is that by removing the nerve, the tooth
becomes “dead”. This is not true. The tooth is very
much alive and functioning because it receives a
source of blood supply and nerve supply from the
surrounding tissues that hold it in place in your
jaw bone. The tooth will have no sense of feeling to
hot, cold, or sweets, but will be responsive to
biting pressures, etc. With the proper restoration,
the tooth should last as long as your other teeth
and can even be used as an anchor teeth for a
partial denture or cemented bridge. The success
rates for root canal therapy have been reported to
be as high as 95%.
Sometimes when
there has been long standing infection or abscess,
there may be some soreness associated with the root
canal visit. If this should turn out to be true, you
will be given specific instructions to follow to
minimize the discomfort. When an infection is
present, it may be necessary to take an antibiotic.
If pain should be present, analgesics may need to be
prescribed. Be sure to call our office at
770-253-3171 if either of these problems should
arise.
The tooth will then
possibly need a post and core and a crown in order
to re-establish normal form and function. This
decision will be based upon several additional
factors. We will advise you on any and all of these
if you will need this procedure.
See also
Root Canal
Therapy Post Operative Instructions
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