Root Canal

What is a Root Canal?

Underneath your tooth's outer enamel and within the dentin is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the tooth's nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Root canals are very small, thin divisions that branch off from the top pulp chamber down to the tip of the root. A tooth has at least one but no more than four root canals.

Why do I feel pain?

When the pulp becomes infected due to a deep cavity or fracture that allows bacteria to seep in, or it gets injured due to trauma, it can die. Damaged or dead pulp causes increased blood flow and cellular activity, and pressure cannot be relieved from inside the tooth. Pain in the tooth is commonly felt when biting down, chewing on it and applying hot or cold foods and drinks.

Why do I need root canal therapy?


What is a root canal procedure?


What is involved in root canal therapy?


First, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, an opening is made from the crown into the pulp chamber (where the infected nerve is), which, along with the root canal, is cleaned of all diseased pulp and reshaped.

Medication is inserted into the area to fight bacteria. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the crown may then be sealed temporarily to guard against recontamination, the tooth may be left open to drain, or Dr. may go right ahead and fill the canals.


What are the risks and complications?

More than 95 percent of root canal treatments are successful. However, sometimes a procedure needs to be redone due to diseased canal offshoots that went unnoticed or the fracture of a filing instrument, both of which rarely occur. Occasionally, a root canal therapy will fail altogether, marked by a return of pain.

What happens after treatment?

Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few days, which can be controlled by an over-the-counter analgesic. A follow-up exam can monitor tissue healing. From this point on, brush and floss regularly, and avoid chewing hard foods with the treated tooth. Once the tooth is symptom free, you will need to return to have the tooth fitted for a crown.

Root Canal Treatment


  • Root canal treatment aims to create an end result where the tissue surrounding the root will continue to be healthy despite the degenerative changes that were undergone by the tooth root.
  • Root canal treatment provides the bulk of the clean up work for the body by removing bacteria and tissue irritants that are present inside the tooth.

Who is this procedure for?

  • Patients whose tooth nerve tissue has started to degenerate
  • Patients with teeth that are causing pain
  • Patients with recurring pimples on their gums
  • Patients who experience the exposure of a tooth nerve
  • Patients with acute tooth abscess.

What happens before the procedure?

Root canal treatment is only performed on numbed teeth. This helps ease the pain and the patient is more relaxed. Once the tooth is numbed, the dentist stretches a sheet of rubber around the tooth. It acts like a dam that keeps the saliva uncontaminated with bacteria while the procedure is being performed.

What happens during the procedure?

The dentist then uses a drill to gain access to the area inside the tooth where the nerve is. A hole is made inside the tooth, down to the pulp chamber. Next, the dentist cleans the pulp chamber and all root canals using instruments that look like small pins – the “root canal files”. The dentist uses the root canal files in an up – and – down twisting motion. This scrapes and scrubs the root canal, cleaning it of debris and bacteria. Periodically the dentist also washes out the tooth to flush away the remaining debris.

Once the tooth is cleaned the dentist uses root canal filling material to fill in and seal up the interior. Some dentists choose to do this on the same day as the root canal treatment, while others choose to wait for about a week. In this case they will use a temporary filling to keep contaminates out until the permanent filling is placed.

What happens after the procedure?

It is very likely that patients will feel their teeth a bit tender after the procedure. Sensitivity is minimized by the use of analgesic and anti – inflammatory medicine. The dentist will instruct the patients on how to chew on the treated teeth.