Root Canal Treatment

When a tooth's nerve, or pulp, becomes infected, leading to pain and swelling, you may choose between a root canal or tooth extraction. The pulp, which comprises nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, has limited healing ability when damaged by deep decay, excessive wear, or trauma, leading to its death. A dead pulp can cause pain, infection, and swelling, which, if left untreated, may spread to the bone surrounding the tooth. A root canal can save the tooth by removing only the diseased nerve, preventing further complications or the necessity for tooth extraction.​
Video:

Root Canal Therapy

Treatment
A root canal normally takes one or two appointments. 

​ Here is what happens:
An opening is made through the tooth into the pulp chamber The infected tissue is removed and the roots are cleaned, disinfected and shaped for the filling. Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help remove or prevent infection. If the root canal requires two appointments, a temporary filling will be placed in the opening between dental visits. However in some cases the dentist may leave the tooth open for a few days to drain. You might also be given an antibiotic to help control infection that may have spread beyond the tooth. Once it is appropriate the final step is to fill the canals permanently with gutta percha.

Single Visit RCT Procedure

Two Visit RCT Procedure

​Possible Complications During Treatment
1.  Difficulties achieving profound anesthesia or numbness due to the infection
2. Incomplete cleaning and shaping the of root canal system due to complex anatomy or tooth calcification
3. Breakage of instruments in the root canals
4. Perforation of the root
These complication may require further corrective  treatment, referral to a specialist or  extraction of the tooth .

After Treatment
In the majority of cases you should expect the affected tooth to be sensitive for 2 to 4 days.  In these cases the dentist will prescribe a pain-killer.  Advil is usually most helpful when pain is more than you can tolerate,But you could experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Fleeting episodes of pain immediately after your appointment for 1 to 4 days. 
• Infection and/or swelling of the gum area in the vicinity of the treated tooth
• Facial swelling of which may persist for several days or longer.  If necessary we will prescribe an antibiotic§ Trismus (restricted jaw opening), which usually lasts several days but may last longer 

Video:

Post-op Instructions for a Root Canal

Follow-up
Immediately following the root canal your tooth needs to be restored with, at the very least, a filling to seal the opening.  However the tooth can be brittle after a root canal and should have a crown placed over it to protect it against fracture.    After about 3 to 6 months you should return for a recall visit so the dentist can evaluate the root canal treated tooth. 

Videos on restoring a Root Canal treated tooth:

Crowns and Root Canals

Post & Core Procedure

Root canal treatments are successful in 95% of cases, often allowing the tooth to last a lifetime, provided the gums are healthy and the tooth is properly restored. It's essential to continue caring for your teeth and gums to maintain their health, with regular checkups being a crucial component of your dental prevention plan.

Despite technological advancements, there is still a 5% chance of root canal failure, which may result in ongoing pain and infection. Failure can be due to various factors, including complex root anatomy, undetected cracks, heavy biting stress, or poor patient healing. In such cases, retreatment, root-end surgery, or even tooth extraction may be necessary.

Dentists have limited control over these factors, which is why they cannot offer a warranty or guarantee of success for root canal treatments.​

What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?