Contents
Preventive care
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment removes the inflamed nerve and blood vessel tissue (pulp) from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and fills the root canals. The aim is to keep the natural tooth in the mouth for longer.
What is root canal treatment?
The pulp is the bundle of nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth. When it is damaged and becomes inflamed for various reasons, this tissue is removed from the tooth, the root canal is shaped and cleaned, and it is filled with special filling materials.
Who needs it?
Root canal treatment is done when:
- The pulp is inflamed or necrotic
- The pulp is exposed by decay, trauma or wear
- Earlier protective treatments have not worked
- It is needed for a prosthesis, such as a post and core
Which symptoms can point to root canal treatment?
It usually starts with sensitivity to hot, cold and touch caused by decay, which passes on its own within a few minutes. At a later stage pain starts for no apparent reason, lasts a long time and does not go away without painkillers; it can wake you up at night. By this stage bacteria have reached the pulp, and root canal treatment is usually needed to keep the tooth.
If keeping the tooth would harm your general health, the neighbouring teeth or the mouth as a whole, extraction may be decided instead.
How does the process work?
- Under local anaesthesia, the decay is removed and the diseased nerve tissue and debris in the pulp are cleared.
- The canals are widened to the root tip with special instruments and filled with suitable materials.
- Depending on how much of the crown of the tooth is damaged, treatment is completed with a filling or a crown.
In some cases laser-assisted procedures are used to help disinfect the canals. The earlier you see your dentist, the sooner treatment can usually be completed. Pain and facial swelling can occur during treatment; this is a reaction caused by the bacteria inside the tooth, and laser-assisted procedures and dressings can shorten this period.
How many sessions?
Root canal treatment on a living tooth can be completed in one session. More sessions are needed when the tooth has lost its vitality, when there is infection at the root tip or when the treatment is being repeated.
Frequently asked questions
What is root canal treatment?
When the blood vessels and nerves inside the root canals of a tooth are damaged, the canals are emptied and cleaned, then filled with tissue-friendly materials. This procedure is called root canal treatment.
Does root canal treatment hurt?
Root canal treatment is done to relieve pain. Local anaesthesia is given, and pain is usually not felt during treatment.
How many visits does root canal treatment take?
Root canal treatment on a living tooth can be completed in one session. More sessions are needed when the tooth has lost its vitality, when there is infection at the root tip or when the treatment is being repeated.
How long does a tooth with root canal treatment last?
With good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, a tooth with root canal treatment can stay in the mouth for many years.
Can a tooth with root canal treatment become inflamed again?
Yes. If new decay forms or the filling cracks, depending on oral hygiene, bacteria can leak into the root canals again and the canals can become reinfected.
Last updated: Editor: Dent4 Levent Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı, dent4levent@gmail.com