Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy

Root canal or endodontic treatment, is a process whereby inflamed or dead pulp is removed from the inside of the tooth, enabling a tooth that was causing pain to be retained.

Dental pulp is the soft tissue in the canal that runs through the centre of a tooth. Once a tooth is fully formed it can function normally without its pulp and is able to be maintained.

After removing the pulp, the root canals are cleaned, sterilised and shaped to a form that can be completely sealed with a filling material to prevent further infection. The treatment can take several appointments, depending on how complex the tooth is, and how long the infection takes to clear.

Subsequently a crown or complex restoration to restore or protect the tooth may be a necessary recommendation, as a tooth after undergoing treatment may be more likely to fracture.

Steps involved in root canal treatment:

• An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the chamber where the pulp is found.
• The pulp is removed, and the root canal/s are cleaned and shaped into a form that can be filled easily.
• Medications to prevent infection may be placed in the pulp chamber.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed to help prevent infection.
• The temporary filling will be removed, and after cleaning, the pulp chamber and root canal/s will be filled.
• Finally, you may require a crown to help hold the tooth together.