What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment involves removing
damaged or infected tissue from the inside of a
tooth. Most people refer to this tissue as the
tooth’s ‘nerve’. So in this advice sheet, that’s
what we will do.
The individual steps of root canal treatment
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Teeth are not completely solid. They contain a
hollow space which contains the nerve of the
tooth. This nerve plays an important role in
the growth and development of the tooth, but
once the tooth is fully grown this is less
important. If the nerve becomes irreversibly
damaged or infected so that it has to be
removed, it will not affect your ability to enjoy
food. The tooth will still remain attached to
the surrounding jawbone, and continue to be
nourished by the surrounding tissues.
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Why is root canal treatment being
suggested?
Our bodies have a sophisticated defence
mechanism to help us deal with bacteria
(infection). If the nerve of a tooth degenerates,
bacteria can enter. Irritants from within the
tooth can then leak out to the surrounding area.
The body tries to seal off the infection but the
bacteria can at times overwhelm this process.
The result can be pain and swelling associated
with the tooth (a dental abscess).
Root canal treatment aims to clean out the
nerve space of the tooth. Most of the time, if
this is done complete healing can occur.
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Making the tooth numb. Most often
it is advisable to have the tooth made
numb to avoid any possible discomfort
during treatment, although this is not
always necessary.
Placing a rubber dam around the
tooth A rubber dam is a sheet of
rubber which is placed over the tooth
being worked on, to isolate it from the
rest of the mouth.
Gaining access. On back teeth the
dentist gets to the nerve space by
drilling through the biting surface of
the tooth. On front teeth the access is
made through the back of the tooth.
Cleaning the tooth out The dentist
can then clean out the nerve space
using a series of small instruments,
called files, some drill driven and some
hand-held. Additionally they will wash
the tooth out periodically so as to help
flush away any debris. It is usually
necessary for the dentist to take one or
more X-ray pictures of your tooth
during this treatment.
Temporary filling At the end of the
appointment, the dentist will usually
place a temporary filling in the hole in
your tooth. This may feel a little
rough, and it may wear down a bit in
between appointments, but it is very
important because it prevents new
bacteria getting into the tooth from the
mouth
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Further appointments Sometimes
root canal treatment can be completed
in a single visit. However, often two or
three appointments, occasionally more,
are needed
Filling the root canal When the tooth
has been thoroughly cleaned out, the
space where the nerve used to be is
filled
Permanent restoration When
treatment is completed, a durable
restoration must be placed in the access
hole on the tooth to prevent leakage.
Will there be discomfort after the
procedure?
The tooth can certainly feel somewhat tender
for up to a week after an appointment and after
the root has been filled. The popular brands of
painkillers which you can buy at the chemist
should help with this. It is wise to be gentle
with the tooth for a few days. It is important,
however, to keep it clean by toothbrushing.
Alternatives to root canal treatment
Extraction of the tooth is usually the only
viable alternative. Sometimes it is a preferred
treatment, if the tooth is very broken down and
would be extremely difficult or impossible to
restore, or if it is a tooth which does not affect
appearance or chewing. The dentist should be
able to advise you as to whether any
replacement for a missing tooth is required.
How long will a tooth which has had root
treatment last?
With proper restoration and care, such a tooth
may last for many years
Is root canal treatment always successful?
There is a good success rate for this treatment
generally but sometimes there is no obvious
explanation for why a seemingly good
treatment fails to be successful.
MAXILLOFACIAL UNIT
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
WHO ARE UNDERGOING ROOT
CANAL TREATMENT
Occasionally, if a root canal treatment has
proved unsuccessful, treating the tooth again
can solve the problem.
Contact Details:
Finally it is worth pointing out that root treated
teeth still need to be looked after as well as
your other teeth. If the tooth is relatively weak,
it may need a crown to help protect it.
Usually this can be done by your own dentist,
even if you have needed to see someone else
for the root canal treatment
Maxillofacial Unit
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Cosham
Portsmouth PO6 3LY
Tel: 023 92286000
Author:
Date Produced:
Review Date:
Ref No:
Heather Beckett
July 2004
July 2006