Root Canal Treatments
Root canal treatments help to protect and keep a sick or dying tooth.
The problem
- Infected or sick teeth due to decay or injury.
- Chronic tooth pain caused by contact with hot and cold liquids.
- Pain from pressure or biting down.
- Danger of a spreading infection.
The solution
Your teeth have a core of blood vessels and nerves at their centre. This living tissue is called the pulp and it's in a space called the root canal. The number of root canals a tooth has varies, depending on how far back the tooth is in your mouth. Your front teeth often have just one root canal, whereas your back teeth may have three or more.
If your tooth's pulp becomes damaged, the blood vessels may die. This results in a 'dead' tooth, which is more likely to get infected because it's no longer protected by your immune system (the system that defends your body against infection and other harmful substances).
There are a number of ways that your tooth's pulp can be damaged. These include:
- decay
- injury
- gum disease
All of these conditions can lead to bacteria getting trapped in your teeth. There is then the possibility that your tooth pulp will become infected, causing blood vessels and nerves to die.
Without treatment, a collection of pus (an abscess) can form at the root tip. This can lead to pain and swelling and may cause damage to the bone around your tooth.
The aim of root canal treatment is to get rid of the damaged pulp and the bacteria that are causing the infection. It involves removing inflamed or dead nerves and blood vessels from the centre of your tooth. This is done by drilling a hole through the top of your tooth to the root canal and removing the dead tissue. The empty root canal system is then cleaned, filled and a permanent seal is put over the top of your tooth.
The procedure may be carried out over one or two visits to your dentist. All dentists can carry out root canal treatment, but many prefer not to carry out re-treatment procedures (where a previous root canal treatment has failed) as these may be more difficult and require additional equipment. Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist, who specialises in root canal treatment.
Advantages
- Any infection will only get worse with time, if left untreated.
- The greatest advantage is that the tooth will not need to be extracted in the future.
Disadvantages
- Occasionally, infected tissue is pushed through the ends of the root infecting the gum. This can be treated easily, but there will be some pain until the infection is cleared up.
- Canals are irregularly shaped, and if the canal is not accurately measured then it won’t be cleaned or filled properly. This will cause the pulp to become infected again and a second procedure will be necessary.
More information about root canal treatment
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