Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Treatment is used to repair and save badly decayed teeth. Spontaneous pain when biting, heightened sensitivity to hot and cold foods and severe tooth decay are signs that a root canal treatment may be necessary.  Endodontic therapy or root canal therapy is a sequence of treatment for the infected pulp of a tooth which results in the elimination of infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion.  The procedure of Root Canal or endodontictreatment includes removal of the infected or damaged pulp from the diseased tooth. After that the hollow pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, filled and sealed. This set of procedures is commonly referred to as a root canal.

The most common causes of pulp damage or death are:

• A cracked tooth
• A deep cavity
• An injury to a tooth, such as a severe knock to the tooth, either recent or in the past.

Once the pulp is infected or dead, if left untreated, pus can build up at the root tip in the jawbone, forming an abscess. An abscess can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth and cause pain

How Long Will the Restored Tooth Last?
Your treated and restored tooth/teeth can last a lifetime with proper care. Because tooth decay can still occur in treated teeth, good oral hygiene and regular dental exams are necessary to prevent further problems.

As there is no longer a pulp keeping the tooth alive, root-treated teeth can become brittle and are more prone to fracture. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to crown or fill a tooth after root canal treatment.

 Benefits of Root Canal treament are:

• It prevents the loss of the tooth, and makes it so the tooth does not need to be pulled
• It eliminates the pain caused by the infection, tooth damage, or sensitivity
• It prevents the spread of infection to surrounding teeth or gums