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Root Canal (Endodontic) Treatment

eeth are held in the jaw by their roots. Inside each tooth is the "pulp" or "nerve" which supplies nourishment and sensation to the tooth. Root canals are very small, thin canals that branch off from the pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.

When the pulp or root canal is diseased or injured, it "dies". If you don’t remove the dead tissues your tooth gets infected and you could lose it.

Root Canal or Endodontic Treatment is the removal and cleaning out of any infection in the pulp and root canals.

The goal of root canal treatment is to preserve the tooth.

The Problem :

  • Spontaneous pain or throbbing of the tooth
  • Pain while biting or chewing
  • Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Deep cavity
  • Cracked, chipped or split tooth
  • Discoloration of the tooth
  • Gum (periodontal) disease
  • Trauma, such as a sudden blow to the mouth

For many damaged pulps or root canals there are NO SYMPTOMS. Your dentist may discover a "dead" tooth in an x-ray.

What will happen if you leave the tooth untreated?

  • The tooth will not heal by itself
  • Pain will worsen
  • The infection will cause swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck or head
  • Bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate
  • Swelling with pus will form in the area around the tooth root, called an abscess
  • The tooth may fall out
  • Possibility of losing the tooth

The Solution:

When the pulp and the root canal(s) have been irreparably damaged, rather than extracting the tooth, your dentist may attempt to save it by performing Root Canal Treatment.

Occasionally, if an abscess has formed at the base of the tooth, it will be necessary to perform a Root Canal Surgery, known as Apicectomy. This is a minor surgical procedure in which the tissue at the base of the root is removed.





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