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Root Canal Treatment

The crown of the tooth is made up of the hard, white, enamel layer and a thicker dentine layer. Both these hard layers protect the innermost soft tissues of the tooth called the pulp. The dental pulp contains blood vessels and nerves within a narrow canal that extends from the crown to the tips of the root or roots.

Root canal treatment involves the removal of the pulp tissues from the tooth in the event that it gets infected or inflamed. The pulp can be infected or inflamed due to either deep decay or an extensive restoration that involves the pulp, cracked or fractured tooth due to trauma, excessive wear of enamel and dentine exposing the pulp, and sometimes as a result of severe gum disease.
Signs of pulp damage may include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discoloration of the tooth, swelling, tenderness of the overlying gums or a bad taste in the mouth. On the other hand, there may be no symptoms at all. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can eventually cause pain, swelling and loss of the supporting bone.

What is involved?

Under Local anaesthetic, the access is gained into the canals that contain the pulp. Each root will have at least 1 canal and some have 2 or 3. Using a series of delicate instruments the pulp is removed from the canals and they are thoroughly cleaned. The tooth is then left for a few days with a dressing in it. This is to ensure the tooth has settled before being filled.

At a subsequent visit, as long as the tooth is symptom free, the canals are filled along their length to prevent and the top of the tooth is filled. Radiographs are taken periodically to monitor the root filling.

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