Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure aimed at saving and restoring a severely damaged or infected tooth. Here’s what you can expect from a root canal treatment:

1. Assessment and Diagnosis: Before the procedure begins, your dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your tooth, possibly including digital X-rays, to assess the extent of damage or infection. Symptoms such as severe toothache, swelling, sensitivity to hot or cold, and gum tenderness may indicate the need for a root canal.

2. Anesthesia: To ensure your comfort throughout the procedure, local anesthesia will be administered to numb the affected tooth and the surrounding area. This ensures that you won’t feel any pain during the treatment.

3. Accessing the Tooth: Once the area is numbed, your dentist will create a small opening in the crown of the tooth to access the infected or damaged pulp chamber and root canals.

4. Cleaning and Shaping: Specialized instruments are used to remove the infected or damaged pulp tissue from inside the tooth and its root canals. The canals are then cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to eliminate bacteria and prevent further infection.

5. Filling and Sealing: After the canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped, they are filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha to provide support and prevent recontamination. The opening in the crown of the tooth is sealed with a temporary or permanent filling to prevent bacteria from entering.

6. Restoration: In some cases, a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment may require additional restoration to restore its strength and functionality. This may involve placing a dental crown over the treated tooth to protect it from further damage and restore its appearance.

7. Follow-up: After the root canal treatment is completed, you may need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist to ensure that the tooth is healing properly. It’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene and attend regular dental check-ups to prevent future problems.

Root canal treatment can effectively relieve pain, save a damaged tooth from extraction, and restore your dental health and confidence. With advances in dental technology and techniques, many root canal procedures are now virtually pain-free and can be completed in just one or two visits to the dentist.