Root Canals

Root Canal Treatment is a treatment that is done to save a decayed or infected tooth which cannot be treated by any other simple filing
When is a Root Canal required?

• Decay in the tooth involving the pulp of the tooth
• Pain in the tooth on chewing food or on drinking hot or cold beverages.
• Discolored tooth.
• Trauma to the tooth.
• Swelling and pain in the gums in the tooth near to it.

Initial steps involves taking an X ray to confirm the diagnosis, ascertain the curvature of the roots as well as see if there is any infection in the bone surrounding the roots. You will be then given Local Anaesthesia to numb the tooth to keep you as comfortable as possible. Using the dental drill an access is made into your tooth to reach your pulp chamber. Then all the pulp and nerve tissue and bacteria are all removed from each of the canals. This can be removed using either hand files or rotary files. These files have increasing diameter and are used in increasing order for cleaning and shaping the canals. Depending on the infection, the prepared canals may be filled in single, double or triple sittings. The canals are filled with Gutta percha a rubber material which is bio compatible with the body and sealed at the canal openings. The access cavity of the tooth is filled with a filling material and the root canal treatment is complete.

90 per cent of teeth which require root canal due not have much crown strength because they are decayed and during the treatment access cavities further weaken the tooth. So crowns must be placed on the tooth to give it the strength to continue its function as well as to prevent fracture. must be placed on the tooth to give them strength.

In Some cases if the infection present at the apex of the tooth does not resolve with Root Canal Treatment then Apicoectomy will have to be done to remove all the infected tissue.