Root Canal Therapy
Bay Area Dental, Aberdeen, MD
Root Canal Therapy
Bay Area Dental, Aberdeen, MD
Understanding Root Canal Therapy
A root canal is a treatment of the center of the tooth that is inflamed, infected, or dead. The center of the tooth, called the pulp, is a soft substance that consists of nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Symptoms of the infection include visible injury or swelling of the tooth and sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums. If you experience any of the symptoms, contact your dental office.
Your dentist will take an X-ray of the tooth. If he or she determines that you need a root canal treatment, 1 or 2 appointments will be scheduled based on the size and duration of the abscess and other factors.
Before starting root canal therapy, the doctor will administer local anesthesia to ensure your complete comfort. A dental dam is placed on the infected site to isolate the affected area. A small opening is made through the top of the tooth to gain access to the pulp.
The pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the root canal, is removed from the chamber and canals. The canals are then cleaned with a disinfecting solution. X-rays may be taken throughout the procedure to ensure each canal is being adequately treated.
Once the canals are cleaned, they are filled with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material to protect and seal. A temporary filling may be placed in the opening until it can be replaced by a permanent filling. After the root canal is completed, the tooth will need a crown to protect it from fracturing.
After the procedure, your tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days. This discomfort may be relieved with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until you have a full restoration.
Root canal therapy can preserve a patient’s tooth for a lifetime. It is a highly successful procedure with more than a 95% success rate.
Understanding Root Canal Therapy
A root canal is a treatment of the center of the tooth that is inflamed, infected, or dead. The center of the tooth, called the pulp, is a soft substance that consists of nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Symptoms of the infection include visible injury or swelling of the tooth and sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums. If you experience any of the symptoms, contact your dental office.
Your dentist will take an X-ray of the tooth. If he or she determines that you need a root canal treatment, 1 or 2 appointments will be scheduled based on the size and duration of the abscess and other factors.
Before starting root canal therapy, the doctor will administer local anesthesia to ensure your complete comfort. A dental dam is placed on the infected site to isolate the affected area. A small opening is made through the top of the tooth to gain access to the pulp.
The pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the root canal, is removed from the chamber and canals. The canals are then cleaned with a disinfecting solution. X-rays may be taken throughout the procedure to ensure each canal is being adequately treated.
Once the canals are cleaned, they are filled with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material to protect and seal. A temporary filling may be placed in the opening until it can be replaced by a permanent filling. After the root canal is completed, the tooth will need a crown to protect it from fracturing.
After the procedure, your tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days. This discomfort may be relieved with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until you have a full restoration.
Root canal therapy can preserve a patient’s tooth for a lifetime. It is a highly successful procedure with more than a 95% success rate.
A root canal is a treatment of the center of the tooth that is inflamed, infected, or dead. The center of the tooth, called the pulp, is a soft substance that consists of nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Symptoms of the infection include visible injury or swelling of the tooth and sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums. If you experience any of the symptoms, contact your dental office.
Your dentist will take an X-ray of the tooth. If he or she determines that you need a root canal treatment, 1 or 2 appointments will be scheduled based on the size and duration of the abscess and other factors.
Before starting root canal therapy, the doctor will administer local anesthesia to ensure your complete comfort. A dental dam is placed on the infected site to isolate the affected area. A small opening is made through the top of the tooth to gain access to the pulp.
The pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the root canal, is removed from the chamber and canals. The canals are then cleaned with a disinfecting solution. X-rays may be taken throughout the procedure to ensure each canal is being adequately treated.
Once the canals are cleaned, they are filled with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material to protect and seal. A temporary filling may be placed in the opening until it can be replaced by a permanent filling. After the root canal is completed, the tooth will need a crown to protect it from fracturing.
After the procedure, your tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days. This discomfort may be relieved with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until you have a full restoration.
Root canal therapy can preserve a patient’s tooth for a lifetime. It is a highly successful procedure with more than a 95% success rate.
Root Canal Retreatment
With proper care and dental hygiene, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment may last a lifetime. However, occasionally a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal, or pain may continue to exist. Every root canal case is different and unique. Your dentist will take the time to discuss their findings with you and provide you with other options. In some instances, your dentist may recommend a root canal retreatment, which is almost identical to the original root canal procedure. Whenever possible, it is always best to save your natural tooth.
Improper healing is due to:
- Complicated canal anatomy went undetected during initial treatment
- Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during initial treatment
- Infection from new decay that is exposed to the root canal
- Cracked or loose filling/crown can expose the tooth to infection
- Restoration did not prevent salivary contamination of the inside of the tooth
- Delayed replacement crown or other restoration
If your dentist recommends a root canal retreatment, a local anesthetic will be administered, and he or she will reopen your tooth to gain access to the canal. The filling material is removed, and your dentist will clean the root canals and examine the inside of your tooth, searching for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment. Once all bacteria and residual pulp tissue are removed, the tooth is then resealed, and a temporary crown or filling is applied. At a later date, a permanent crown will be placed.
Root Canal Retreatment
- Complicated canal anatomy went undetected during initial treatment
- Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during initial treatment
- Infection from new decay that is exposed to the root canal
- Cracked or loose filling/crown can expose the tooth to infection
- Restoration did not prevent salivary contamination of the inside of the tooth
- Delayed replacement crown or other restoration
With proper care and dental hygiene, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment may last a lifetime. However, occasionally a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal, or pain may continue to exist. Every root canal case is different and unique. Your dentist will take the time to discuss their findings with you and provide you with other options. In some instances, your dentist may recommend a root canal retreatment, which is almost identical to the original root canal procedure. Whenever possible, it is always best to save your natural tooth.
Improper healing is due to:
- Complicated canal anatomy went undetected during initial treatment
- Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during initial treatment
- Infection from new decay that is exposed to the root canal
- Cracked or loose filling/crown can expose the tooth to infection
- Restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth
- Delayed replacement crown or other restoration
If your dentist recommends a root canal retreatment, a local anesthetic will be administered, and he or she will reopen your tooth to gain access to the canal. The filling material is removed, and your dentist will clean the root canals and examine the inside of your tooth, searching for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment. Once all bacteria and residual pulp tissue are removed, the tooth is then resealed, and a temporary crown or filling is applied. At a later date, a permanent crown will be placed.
