What Exactly is a Root Canal?

A root canal, also known as an endodontic treatment, is a treatment option for saving a tooth whose pulp chamber has been compromised, but which otherwise has good structural integrity. The pulp or nerve, the inside, living portion of the tooth, is essential for the tooth to grow, but is unnecessary in a full-grown tooth. In fact, the pulp may have to be removed to protect the tooth once decay or damage has reached the pulp chamber. A root canal is the advanced dental treatment for the removal of the pulp.

Why Remove the Pulp

If a fracture or decay has exposed the pulp or threatens to expose the pulp, you will experience a great deal of pain. The pulp contains nerves and can be very sensitive. In addition, the pulp chamber can provide bacteria a conduit for invading the jawbone and surrounding, healthy teeth. To prevent additional damage, it is best to remove the pulp from its chamber, known as a canal. The removal of the pulp also allows for the placement of strengthening restorations in the pulp chamber.

Removing the Pulp

To remove the pulp, the dentist first removes any old or damaged fillings, then drills into the pulp chamber. Pulp that has been infected will be removed. Once the pulp has been removed the interior of the tooth will be filled with gutta-percha, a latex, to seal the tooth. A temporary filling may be placed over top of the gutta-percha, which is later removed along with some of the gutta-percha. Then the temporary filling will be removed to make way for a permanent filling that may include reinforcement such as a metal post to provide additional support for a dental crown. If you are getting a metal crown, make sure the dentist does not use amalgam filling, since it can have chemical interactions leading to the destruction of the crown, filling, and tooth.

Restoring the Tooth

Once the interior of the tooth has been repaired, it is necessary to protect the tooth from further damage. In some cases, this may constitute the use of fillings, but in other cases, a crown might be necessary, especially in cases where the pulp canal was compromised as a result of failed fillings.

In this case, tooth enamel is removed to allow for the installation of the crown. If your dentist has CEREC technology, a new crown may be constructed within an hour or so, using CAD/CAM processes, and fitted that day. Otherwise, an impression of the mouth is made so that the crown can fit perfectly among your other teeth, and the impression is sent to a lab. A temporary crown is worn for the two weeks or so required to craft the new crown. Once it is ready, the new crown will be permanently bonded to the tooth.