Therapy
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure used to treat infection or damage to the pulp of a tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. When the pulp becomes infected or damaged, it can cause severe pain and lead to further complications if left untreated.
During a root canal procedure, the dentist or endodontist removes the infected or damaged pulp from the tooth and the inside of the tooth is then cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent further infection. In some cases, a dental crown may be placed over the tooth to restore its strength and function.
The process is theoretically straightforward but can be time consuming if there are multiple canals with sharp curvatures or inaccessible calcified channels. Even the hardness of the root structure can vary from individual to individual making preparation more arduous.
Providing the tooth and the supporting tissues remain healthy and do not succumb to more progressive decay which can over-stress the root filling or periodontal disease, research shows us that root treatments can last many decades.
The procedure involves removing the pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth and sealing it to prevent reinfection. First time treatments are more successful because the bacterial infection is limited to the tooth and has not invaded the supporting tissues. Once the periradicular tissues become involved there is a slight but immediate reduction in the rate of success.