Root Canal Procedure

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Dental Pearl may recommend root canal therapy if the dental pulp, the innermost part of the tooth, is inflamed or infected. The procedure removes infected pulp tissue from deep inside the tooth, allowing the tooth to be restored and preventing extraction.

The dental pulp is the part of the tooth right in its center, in an area called the pulp chamber. It includes nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues that supply essential nutrients to the tooth while it is developing. These tissues extend into the root canals in the tooth roots.

Root canal treatment is a process that removes all the soft tissues, and special files are used to clean and shape the root canals. Once all the tissue is removed, the tooth is disinfected and is ready to be permanently sealed and restored.

Most teeth that have received root canal treatment will need a dental crown fitted afterward. This is because the tooth is likely substantially damaged or decayed and needs the strength and structure provided by a crown that will cover the entire tooth.

Symptoms That You Need a Root Canal

When a tooth is infected or inflamed, several symptoms can develop, including:

• Continuous toothache.
• Tooth pain when you bite or chew.
• Swollen, red gums around the tooth.
• Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages.
• An unpleasant taste or bad breath.
• Tooth discolouration that causes it to darken.
• A pimple on the gum tissue, where pus has started to build up.

How Can Teeth Become Infected or Inflamed?

There are various ways a tooth can become infected or inflamed, including:

• An untreated cavity or a crumbling or failing filling.
• Dental treatment that has caused inflammation in the dental pulp.
• A blow to a tooth that inflames the pulp, causing it to swell and create pressure inside the tooth, resulting in a toothache.
• An untreated chip or crack in a tooth.
• Gum disease that is affecting the tooth roots.

A tooth can become infected if its enamel is damaged. This damage is often caused by a cavity, which allows bacteria to enter the tooth. It can also occur if you have a crack in a tooth. Even a small crack can open up slightly when you bite down, enabling harmful bacteria to penetrate the tooth.

When bacteria enter the tooth, they can gradually infect and erode the dentin. This is the tooth structure directly underneath the tooth enamel and is considerably softer and more easily damaged. Eventually, these bacteria penetrate the pulp chamber and can infect the dental pulp, usually causing a very unpleasant toothache.

If a tooth is damaged or you have taken a blow to a tooth and it’s begun to hurt, it’s always worth getting in touch with our dental office. We can arrange for you to see a root canal specialist for a prompt diagnosis and suitable treatment.

Understanding Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is technique-sensitive, and you will need to visit our dental office several times to complete treatment. Below is an overview of what to expect.

1. Dental Exam and Diagnostics

During your visit to Dental Pearl, a root canal specialist will gently examine the affected tooth and will carry out tests to assess if the tooth nerve is still alive. Digital dental X-rays will reveal the extent of the infection and inflammation in the tooth.

These diagnostic images are essential for planning your root canal therapy, as they allow us to visualize the number and shape of root canals requiring treatment. After completing our exam, we can discuss the findings with you and present a custom treatment plan outlining our recommendations and the cost.

2. Root Canal Therapy

Your tooth will be numbed using a local anesthetic, and it’s important to stress that root canal therapy is not painful. The procedure should feel similar to having an ordinary dental filling, but it will take a bit longer to complete since it is considerably more involved.

We isolate the tooth by placing a rubber dam over it, which helps keep it dry during treatment. Our dentist will create a small hole in the tooth to expose the dental pulp.

All the dental pulp tissue is removed, and your root canals are shaped and cleaned. We will likely use microscopic dentistry during this stage to ensure the tooth is thoroughly cleaned before disinfection.

If you had a severe tooth infection, antibiotics might be placed inside the tooth, and we would temporarily seal it. A more permanent filling made from gutta-percha is used to seal the tooth once we are sure it is infection-free.

3. Restoring the Tooth

Your tooth will likely be restored at a later appointment, where we will numb it, carefully reshape it, and take a digital dental impression. Digital dental impressions are far more comfortable than tray impressions and are quick and non-invasive to complete.

Our dental lab will use the digital impression to craft your permanent crown. This can take two weeks, so while it is being made, we cover your tooth with a temporary crown.

When your crown is ready, you return to our dental office so we can try it in and fit it over your root-treated tooth, sealing it completely while restoring its strength, structure, and appearance.

What to Expect after Root Canal Treatment

If you have a severe toothache, you can expect your tooth to feel immediately more comfortable afterward once all the infection is removed. However, it’s absolutely normal for a tooth to feel slightly more sensitive after dental treatment, and it can take a few days to settle down.

Please remember that if you have any concerns during recovery, we are always here to help you and to answer your questions.

Benefits of a Root Canal Procedure

Root canal treatment provides some significant benefits, which include:

• Eliminating tooth pain.
• Removing infection.
• Saving a tooth from extraction.

Modern root canal therapy has a very high success rate, and most people find recovery afterward is quick and smooth.

Above all, treatment can save a natural tooth from extraction. Saving and protecting your natural teeth is always preferable, healthier, and more cost-effective than replacing a tooth later.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Much Will Root Canal Therapy Cost?

The price of treatment depends on the tooth requiring therapy and the extent of the damage. For example, treating a front tooth will be cheaper than treating a back tooth.

This is because a front tooth has a single root, whereas a large back tooth, like a molar, can have three roots, each of which will require treatment, making the procedure longer.

2. Will Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is an essential treatment, so you can expect at least part of the cost to be covered. The percentage covered may depend on your policy and the type of crown chosen for restoration.

We can ensure you have a complete treatment plan before we begin and that you know of any out-of-pocket costs.

3. Can a Root Canal Fail?

Root canal failure is rare, but it can occur, sometimes many years later, after the original treatment. The tooth roots can become reinfected, and sometimes root canal retreatment is used to remove the infection and restore the tooth.

However, it is an advanced treatment. It will likely be more expensive than an ordinary root canal treatment.

If you have a failed root canal, we can discuss the likelihood of root canal retreatment and the associated costs. We can help you decide whether to proceed with retreatment or to remove the tooth and perhaps replace it with a dental implant or another restoration.

4. What Happens If I Delay Treatment?

We strongly recommend that you receive root canal therapy as soon as possible for a better treatment outcome. Delaying your treatment will allow the infection to worsen, and may mean that we need to remove the tooth.