Root Canal
Sometimes bacteria enter the pulp of a tooth and cause an infection. When this occurs, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. During this procedure, the infected pulp is removed, and the tooth is sealed to prevent reinfection.
What Is Root Canal?
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that relieves pain caused by an infected or abscessed tooth. During the root canal process, the inflamed pulp is removed. The surfaces inside the tooth are then cleaned and disinfected, and a filling is placed to seal the space.
Root canal therapy is necessary when oral bacteria invade the pulp inside your tooth. This usually happens when a cavity is left untreated for a long time. It can also occur if your tooth becomes cracked or damaged due to trauma.
Performing Root Canal
Before beginning your root canal, your healthcare provider can answer any questions you have about the procedure. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your root canal treatment:
Take all medications as prescribed. You may be given antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications a few days before your appointment, especially if there is a lot of infection present.
Don’t smoke. Tobacco products interfere with your body’s ability to heal itself. Avoid smoking several days before your root canal appointment—and stop altogether if you’re able.
Eat a healthy meal. Since the local anesthesia used during root canal therapy will make your mouth numb for a few hours, it’s a good idea to eat before your appointment.
Retreatment
Retreatment in root canal therapy refers to a procedure performed when a previously treated tooth develops complications or symptoms of infection after an initial root canal treatment. Despite the initial treatment, bacteria may persist in the tooth or reinfect the root canal system, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, or abscess formation.
During retreatment, the dentist or endodontist reopens the tooth to access the root canal system. The filling material from the previous root canal treatment is removed, and the canals are thoroughly cleaned, reshaped, and disinfected to remove any remaining bacteria and infected tissue. In some cases, additional canals that were not adequately treated during the initial procedure may be discovered and addressed.
Once the canals are cleaned and shaped, they are filled with a biocompatible material to seal them and prevent further infection. The tooth is then sealed with a temporary or permanent filling or crown restoration to restore its strength and function.
Apicoectomy
An apicoectomy, also known as root-end resection, is a surgical procedure performed to treat persistent infections or inflammation in the tooth’s root tip (apex) after a root canal treatment.
During a traditional root canal procedure, the infected or inflamed pulp tissue inside the tooth is removed, and the root canal is cleaned, shaped, and sealed. However, in some cases, the infection or inflammation may persist even after root canal treatment.
It is a relatively minor surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia. The dentist or endodontist accesses the tip of the tooth’s root through a small incision in the gum tissue near the tooth. The infected or inflamed tissue is then removed, along with a small portion of the root tip. The root end is then cleaned and sealed with a filling material to prevent further infection. The gum tissue is sutured back into place, and the healing process begins
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Video courtesy to Lassus Tandartsen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare for root canal treatment?
Before beginning your root canal, your healthcare provider can answer any questions you have about the procedure. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your root canal treatment:
- Take all medications as prescribed: You may be given antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications a few days before your appointment, especially if there is a lot of infection present.
- Don’t smoke: Tobacco products interfere with your body’s ability to heal itself. Avoid smoking several days before your root canal appointment — and stop altogether if you’re able.
- Eat a healthy meal: Since the local anesthesia used during root canal therapy will make your mouth numb for a few hours, it’s a good idea to eat before your appointment.
How long does a root canal take?
Depending on the amount of infection in your tooth, root canal therapy may require one or two appointments. On average, a root canal takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete. If you are having treatment on a larger tooth with multiple roots, it can take up to an hour and a half.
Do root canals hurt?
Many people are afraid they’ll have tooth pain after root canal therapy. However, because the source of infection is removed during the procedure, most people find immediate relief following treatment. If you are experiencing throbbing pain after a root canal, call your healthcare provider right away.
